[Temporal arteritis: a syndrome. From Horton's disease to periarteritis nodosa]

Four cases of histologically proven temporal arteritis presenting with atypical clinical, anatomical or evolutive features and raising nosological problems concerning the type of vasculitis involved are presented. In patients with temporal arteritis, some elements are suggestive of periarteritis nodosa. They include peripheral neurological lesions, renal or pleuro-pulmonary lesions and the histological appearance of the temporal artery. Diagnosing periarteritis nodosa in a case of temporal arteritis leads to a special therapeutic strategy.