Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 24, 2025
06:35
An Immunohistopathologic Study to Profile the Folate Receptor Beta Macrophage and Vascular Immune Microenvironment in Giant Cell Arteritis
Published on: February 8, 2019
7.2K
Giant Cell Arteritis With Chronic Bronchitis Successfully Treated With Tocilizumab
Ryuichi Ohta1, Nozomi Nishikura1, Hirotaka Ikeda1
1Community Care, Unnan City Hospital, Unnan, JPN.
Cureus
|July 10, 2023
Summary
Giant cell arteritis (GCA) can affect the lungs, presenting diagnostic challenges. Tocilizumab offers an effective treatment option for GCA complicated by chronic lung disease in older adults.
Area of Science:
- Rheumatology
- Pulmonology
- Internal Medicine
Background:
- Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is a systemic vasculitis primarily affecting large arteries.
- Pulmonary involvement in GCA is uncommon compared to other connective tissue diseases.
- Diagnosing and managing GCA in patients with pre-existing chronic lung disease presents unique challenges.
Observation:
- An 87-year-old male presented with systemic muscular pain and cough.
- The patient was diagnosed with GCA complicated by chronic bronchitis.
- This case highlights the diagnostic and therapeutic considerations for GCA with pulmonary manifestations.
Findings:
- Treatment with tapering doses of prednisolone and tocilizumab proved effective in this patient.
- Tocilizumab demonstrated efficacy in managing GCA co-existing with chronic bronchitis.
- The combination therapy suggests a potential therapeutic strategy for similar complex cases.
Implications:
- Giant cell arteritis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of elderly patients presenting with systemic muscular pain and cough.
- Tocilizumab emerges as a potentially reliable treatment option for GCA complicated by lung diseases.
- This case underscores the importance of a multidisciplinary approach in managing GCA with atypical or complicated presentations.
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