Giant cell arteritis and renal amyloidosis: report of a case

Polymyalgia rheumatica and giant cell arteritis are rarely associated with renal diseases such as amyloidosis. Here is a case of a 72-year-old man, who developed some renal failure and a nephrotic syndrome while presenting clinical symptoms of giant cell arteritis. Percutaneous renal biopsy showed secondary amyloidosis, and temporal artery biopsy revealed some lesions which suggested temporal arteritis. In spite of aggressive steroid treatment, chlorambucil, and colchicine, the patient's renal function continued to deteriorate and the patient is now being given hemodyalisis.