Refractory giant cell arteritis with spinal cord infarction

Neurology. 1997 Dec;49(6):1720-3. doi: 10.1212/wnl.49.6.1720.

Abstract

We report an elderly patient with aggressive steroid-refractory giant cell arteritis manifesting as myelopathy and bilateral visual loss while on treatment. Pathologically, spinal cord infarction was observed and was due to extensive necrotizing granulomatous arteritis of spinal arteries. Spinal cord damage in giant cell arteritis is rare. One prior autopsy report of spinal cord infarction in giant cell arteritis did not identify vasculitic changes in the spinal arteries.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Arteries / pathology
  • Female
  • Fundus Oculi
  • Giant Cell Arteritis / complications*
  • Giant Cell Arteritis / pathology
  • Humans
  • Infarction / complications*
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Spinal Cord / blood supply*
  • Temporal Arteries / pathology