Small bowel infarction in association with giant cell arteritis

Giant cell arteritis is not uncommonly found in extracranial arteries in postmortem studies of patients with temporal arteritis. Presentation with vasculitis involving extracranial arteries is, however, unusual. This report describes a case of giant cell arteritis presenting with and complicated by infarction of the small bowel. Following surgical resection of the infarcted segment of bowel and commencement of steroid therapy, the patient is now well and free of symptoms. The literature concerning extracranial and in particular small bowel giant cell arteritis is reviewed.