The diagnosis and management of arteritis

Abstract

Inflammatory arterial disease is often insidious and associated with a substantial morbidity and mortality. Early recognition is vital. Patients with arteritis (n = 106) were studied and divided into five groups. Two of these were subgroups of giant cell arteritis classified by site into either cranial arteritis (66), or upper limb arteritis (7). Three other groups were identified; chronic periaortitis (with or without inflammatory aortic aneurysm) (7), polyarteritis nodosa (14), and small vessel arteritis (12). Clinicians are not sufficiently aware of arteritis and its many atypical presentations. Delay in management is associated with a significant morbidity and mortality. In this district serving 200,000 people at least one patient per month is seriously at risk from the disease. Improved outlook depends on early recognition of the clinical syndromes and rapid appropriate treatment.