Bilateral superficial femoral giant cell arteritis.

Full Abstract

Giant cell arteritis is a rare, poorly understood, and often misdiagnosed entity. A case is reported of giant cell arteritis in a 30-year-old white male who developed severe bilateral peripheral claudication affecting both legs. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) was markedly elevated. The diagnosis of vasculitis was established by histology postoperatively following exploration of both superficial femoral arteries and the placement of a reversed saphenous vein bypass graft to the right leg. Biopsy of the temporal artery revealed no pathology. The patient has been completely asymptomatic postoperatively and has resumed all previous normal activities. This condition has persisted in spite of a failed graft determined by an arteriogram performed 3 months after surgery. He has been treated with steroids continuously since the procedure.

Author information

Author/s: Tarnoff, J F (JF); Pearlman, E (E); Balkoura, M H (MH); Venkataraman, M (M);

Affiliation: Department of Surgery, Mount Sinai Hospital Medical Center, Chicago, IL.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Case Reports; Journal Article

Journal: The Journal of cardiovascular surgery (J Cardiovasc Surg (Torino)), published in ITALY. (Language: eng)

Reference: -1990 May-Jun; vol 31 (issue 3) : pp 375-9

Dates: Created 1990/08/23; Completed 1990/08/23; Revised 2007/11/15;

PMID: 2196269, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: 18 Feb 2009 00:00:00)

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