Giant cell arteritis diagnosed following arm claudication.

A patient is described whose initial symptoms, though suggestive of polymyalgia rheumatica, were attributed to psoriatic arthritis, and whose subsequent development of claudication of the left arm led to the biopsy proven diagnosis of giant cell arteritis. Attention is drawn to widespread arterial involvement by giant cell arteritis which, though uncommon, must be considered in all patients with ischemic limb pain. In addition, the consequences of overlooking polymyalgia rheumatica as an early manifestation of giant cell arteritis are outlined.