[Fatal giant cell arteritis with severe bilateral involvement of the vertebral arteries]

With steroid therapy, it is commonly considered that prognosis is good in giant cell arteritis. However serious or even fatal complications may occur. Here we report the case of a patient who developed fatal giant cell arteritis with severe stenosis of both vertebral arteries and right carotid siphon. Several similar cases have been reported in the literature. Initially diagnosis may be difficult because neurological manifestations are intermittent and classical signs of giant cell arteritis may be lacking. In such condition the reason of poor outcome is unknown and therapy remains empiric.