[Polyarteritis nodosa, an alternative diagnosis of giant cell arteritis in cases of temporal arteritis].

INTRODUCTION

Weight loss, myalgias, neurologic manifestations and arterial hypertension are common features of polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) at diagnosis. Temporal arteritis is a rarer manifestation of PAN, more suggestive of giant cell arteritis (GCA).

CASE: We report the case of a 77-year-old woman who presented with fatigue, weight loss, fever, neck pain, jaw claudication and cough, diagnosed with giant cell arteritis. Diagnosis was reconsidered in favour of a medium and small-sized vessels necrotizing vasculitis corresponding to PAN because of steroid dependence, mononeuritis and suggestive histological features.

CONCLUSION

Although temporal arteritis is suggestive of GCA, other causes of temporal arteritis can be identified with temporal artery biopsy.