[Clinical aspects of temporal arteritis: course variations up to fatal complications].

BACKGROUND

Arteritis temporalis (AT) shows a variable course of the disease and may lead to transient or permanent visual loss.

PATIENTS AND

METHODS

In a retrospective consecutive case series 66 patients with suspected AT were followed up of which 65 underwent arterial biopsy. Symptoms, therapy and complications were followed up.

RESULTS

Of the patients 32 (49.2%) revealed a positive histological finding in unilateral (55.4%) or bilateral (44.6%) biopsy. Of these 3 (9.4%) suffered a severe or fatal outcome: two with extensive ischemia of the vertebrobasilar system (one fatal) and one patient died due to acute pancreatitis, a rare side effect of systemic steroid therapy.

CONCLUSION

When systemically apparent, arteritis temporalis can progress to reduction of general health, cerebral ischemia and organ infarction. Therefore, AT is a serious disease requiring interdisciplinary, immediate diagnostics and prompt therapy.