The clinical pictures of giant cell arteritis. Temporal arteritis, polymyalgia rheumatica, and fever of unknown origin
Malmvall, B.E.; Bengtsson, B.A.; Alestig, K.; Bojs, G.; Iwarson, S.
Postgraduate Medicine 67(1): 141-3 146-7 150
1980
ISSN/ISBN: 0032-5481 PMID: 7350559 Document Number: 158026
In a prospective study, 68 hospitalized patients were diagnosed as having giant cell arteritis. Temporal artery biopsy was performed in all patients and showed histologic evidence of arteritis in 42 (62%). Twenty-six patients had a negative biopsy but met the clinical criteria for the diagnosis. Four different clinical pictures were recognized. Thirteen patients (19%) had symptoms of localized temporal arteritis without muscular discomfort. The polymyalgia rheumatica syndrome without signs of localized arteritis was seen in 33 patients (49%). Seventeen (25%) had symptoms of both polymyalgia rheumatica and temporal arteritis. Five patients (7%) had general symptoms only, such as fever, anorexia, and fatigue, without muscular or arteritic symptoms.