Dry cough is a frequent manifestation of giant cell arteritis

Abstract

Physicians need to be familiar with the typical manifestations of giant cell arteritis. However, the challenge lies in recognizing atypical cases that lack the more specific manifestations or reflect vasculitis in less frequently involved territories. Among atypical clinical manifestations, dry cough has been reported in recent years. The literature contains sporadic reports mainly single case report. The objective of this study was to determine the frequency of dry cough in patients with giant cell arteritis. Clinical data were collected from 88 patients with giant cell arteritis. Relationships between dry cough and other clinical manifestations or biological data were analyzed. Dry cough of recent appearance was found at initial presentation of giant cell arteritis in 12 patients (13.6%). In 2 cases, dry cough was isolated. The 2 patients sought attention because of chronic dry cough associated with inflammation of unknown origin. In 10 cases, dry cough was associated with typical clinical manifestations of giant cell arteritis. A correlation was found between inflammatory biomarkers and presence of dry cough. The mean CRP was 153.8 mg/l (SD 85.1) in patients with dry cough and 94 mg/l (SD 72.2) in patients without dry cough (p = 0.0131). We conclude that the diagnosis of giant cell arteritis should always be considered in an elderly patient with an unexplained elevation of inflammatory markers and chronic dry cough. Dry cough in giant cell arteritis was not correlated with other clinical manifestations of this vasculitis, including pulmonary manifestations, but was correlated with inflammatory biomarkers.