[Giant cell arteritis and aortic dissection in 2 siblings].

We present the case of two female siblings with temporal arteritis, polymyalgia and type B aortic dissection. Aortic aneurysms in families are well known in Marfan's and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome; they can, however, occur without signs of a collagen disorder. In patients with arteritis temporalis the incidence of aortic aneurysms is higher than normal. In a retrospective survey of 20,591 autopsies there were 443 aortic aneurysms (2%), 30 (7%) being a consequence of arteritis. Arteritic processes caused 15% of the thoracic and 5% of the abdominal aneurysms. This is the first description of temporal arteritis, polymyalgia and aortic dissection in siblings. The observation illustrates the danger of aneurysmatic aortic dilatation and/or dissection at a later or chronic stage of arteritis.