Disseminated visceral giant cell arteritis.

Autopsy findings of disseminated visceral giant cell arteritis in a 78-year-old man who was in chronic renal failure for two years were presented. Arteritis had not been suspected clinically and definite diagnosis was made after the autopsy. Only small arteries and arterioles were involved. The arteritis was characterized by granulomatous lesion with exclusively multinucleated giant cells. Fibrinoid necrosis with polymorphonuclear leukocyte infiltration was found only in one arteriole of the stomach. The arteritis was distributed in the heart, lungs, kidneys, gastrointestinal tract, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, prostate, and lymph nodes, but not in the aorta and brain. This peculiar type of arteritis was reported only by LIE and the entity was designated as disseminated visceral giant cell arteritis.