[A late onset diagnosis of giant cell arteritis in remission]

Abstract

Giant-cell arteritis (GCA) is a classical cause of chronical inflammation (CI) in the elderly, causing headaches, scalp hypersensitivity and jaw claudication. We describe a patient with a GCA revealed with a year-long biological inflammation and weight loss. Diagnosis was performed on a systematic temporal artery biopsy showing typical histological features. No treatment was intended as the patient had a spontaneous remission, maintained at one year of follow-up. This case highlights the benefit of a systematic temporal artery biopsy to explore CI and reminds us that GCA may undergo spontaneous remission.

Keywords: Artérite à cellules géantes; Fever; Fièvre; Giant cell arteritis; Guérison spontanée; Horton; Spontaneous remission; Vascularite; Vascularitis.