Giant cell arteritis associated with progressive systemic sclerosis

The clinical and autopsy findings in a patient with both systemic sclerosis (scleroderma) and giant cell arteritis are presented. Giant cell arteritis and systemic sclerosis are autoimmune diseases affecting the elderly that may be associated with similar clinical symptoms of facial pain and arthralgias. Their coexistence is virtually unknown in the medical literature but is of great clinical importance. Systemic sclerosis is not treated with the steroid dosage necessary to prevent the morbid results of giant cell arteritis. An elevated sedimentation rate and/or an abnormal temporal artery examination in an elderly patient with systemic sclerosis should alert the clinician to the possible coexistence of giant cell arteritis.