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[Peripheral nerve diseases disclosing Horton's disease (2 cases)]
M H Balquet1, D Gosset, B Bouchez
1Service de Médecine Interne, Hôpital Huriez, Lille.
La Revue De Medecine Interne
|January 1, 1991
Summary
Giant cell arteritis, a condition rarely affecting peripheral nerves, can lead to diagnostic errors when peripheral neuropathy is the primary symptom. This study highlights two cases where giant cell arteritis presented initially as peripheral neuropathy.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Rheumatology
- Vascular Medicine
Background:
- Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is a systemic vasculitis primarily affecting large and medium-sized arteries.
- Cranial symptoms are most common, but GCA can manifest with diverse clinical presentations.
Observation:
- Peripheral neuropathy is an uncommon manifestation of GCA.
- In rare instances, peripheral neuropathy may be the predominant or sole presenting feature of GCA.
Findings:
- This report details two cases where patients presented with significant peripheral neuropathy.
- Giant cell arteritis was the underlying diagnosis revealed in both cases, despite the unusual initial presentation.
Implications:
- The findings underscore the importance of considering GCA in patients with peripheral neuropathy, especially when typical symptoms are absent.
- Early recognition and diagnosis of GCA presenting as peripheral neuropathy are crucial to prevent irreversible complications such as vision loss.
- This highlights the need for a broader differential diagnosis in cases of peripheral neuropathy, including systemic inflammatory conditions.