Infantile disseminated visceral giant cell arteritis presenting as sudden infant death

The rare clinicopathological entity 'disseminated visceral giant cell arteritis' (DVGCA) was first described in 1978. It is characterized by widespread small-vessel giant cell angitis and extravascular granulomas. A normal and healthy 7-month-old boy who presented unexpectedly with sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is reported. Histological examination at autopsy revealed giant cell angitis of the aorta, common carotid, coronary, pulmonary, celiac, mesenteric and common iliac arteries. There were also granulomas in the tracheal wall and liver. To our knowledge, this is the first documented case of DVGCA occurring in an infant younger than 12 months of age. A review of the literature on DVGCA is presented in this report, and the differential diagnosis is discussed.