Thyrotoxicosis and giant-cell arteritis

In a retrospective survey we found that five (8.5%) out of 59 women with giant-cell arteritis had a history of thyrotoxicosis. This was significantly higher than in a control group of patients. Giant-cell arteritis and thyrotoxicosis occurred simultaneously in two cases. Knowledge of this association is of clinical use and is further evidence for an immunological basis for giant-cell arteritis.