Neuro-ophthalmic complications of biopsy-proven giant cell arteritis

Details

Serval ID
serval:BIB_D3D764BEFDA3
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Collection
Publications
Institution
Title
Neuro-ophthalmic complications of biopsy-proven giant cell arteritis
Journal
European Journal of Ophthalmology
Author(s)
Glutz von Blotzheim  S., Borruat  F. X.
ISSN
1120-6721 (Print)
Publication state
Published
Issued date
12/1997
Volume
7
Number
4
Pages
375-82
Notes
Journal Article --- Old month value: Oct-Dec
Abstract
PURPOSE: To define the spectrum of neuro-ophthalmic complications and clinical presentations of patients with giant cell arteritis (GCA). METHODS: Retrospective study (1977-1994) of clinical charts, fundus photographies and fluorescein angiographies of 66 patients with temporal artery biopsy positive for GCA. RESULTS: Clinical data were adequate for 47 patients. Headaches were reported by 83%, weight loss in 73%, jaw claudication in 68%, scapular pain in 64% and asthenia in 57%. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate was normal in 15%. Neuro-ophthalmic complications were present in 33 cases (70%), including anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (22 cases), choroidal ischemia (17 cases), central or branch retinal artery occlusion (seven cases), and oculomotility disturbances (four cases). Fluorescein angiography was very helpful for detecting choroidal ischemia (80.9% of our cases). Twenty-one patients presented with involvement of several distinct orbital arterial territories and one very unusual patient suffered from an orbital infarction (i.e. ischemia of all orbital structures). CONCLUSIONS: In our series, two-thirds of biopsy-proven GCA patients presented with neuro-ophthalmic complications, ranging from transient visual loss to orbital infarction. Involvement of more than one orbital vascular territory is highly suggestive of an arteritic process. Clinicians should keep in mind the possibility of GCA even when ESR is normal, and fluorescein angiography should be performed. The finding of choroidal ischemia should prompt temporal artery biopsy and steroid therapy.
Keywords
Aged Aged, 80 and over Biopsy Blindness/etiology Choroid/*blood supply/pathology Diplopia/etiology Female Fluorescein Angiography Fundus Oculi Humans Infarction/etiology Ischemia/diagnosis/*etiology Male Middle Aged Ocular Motility Disorders/diagnosis/*etiology Optic Neuropathy, Ischemic/*etiology Orbit/*blood supply Retinal Artery Occlusion/diagnosis/*etiology Retrospective Studies Temporal Arteritis/*complications/diagnosis
Pubmed
Create date
28/01/2008 12:37
Last modification date
20/08/2019 15:53
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