Classically Presenting GCA with an Unusual Evolution

Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is a primary vasculitis of large and medium-sized arteries. It is the most common vasculitis affecting the elderly. GCA involves the cranial branches of the carotid arteries and classically presents with cranial symptoms such as headache or jaw claudication. Aortitis can occur, and cases of mesenteric ischemia have been reported. Diagnosis can be challenging, and subclinical mesenteric ischemia in GCA may be more prevalent than previously recognized. ResumeL’artérite temporale est une vasculite primaire des artères de gros et de moyen calibre. Il s’agit de la vasculite la plus courante chez les personnes âgées. Elle touche les ramifications crâniennes des carotides, et la forme classique se manifeste par des symptômes crâniens comme la céphalée ou la claudication intermittente de la mâchoire. Une aortite peut survenir, et des cas d’ischémie mésentérique ont été rapportés. Le diagnostic peut être difficile à poser, et l’ischémie mésentérique infraclinique dans les cas d’artérite temporale est peut-être plus fréquente que ce que l’on croyait auparavant. Ce cas met en évidence la nature systémique et l’évolution clinique potentiellement imprévisible de l’artérite temporale. Nous décrivons les caractéristiques histopathologiques de l’atteinte mésentérique et résumons l’état actuel de la documentation scientifique sur le sujet en mettant l’accent sur des stratégies de prise en charge.

Treatment of Vasculitis: Beyond the Basics

Vasculitis is the inflammation of blood vessels in the human body. It causes changes and remodeling in the walls of the vessels that include thickening, narrowing and scarring. As a result, the blood flow to the organs and tissues gets restricted leading to organ damage. The cause of primary vasculitis is not known; however, most cases are thought to be autoimmune. In the present era, it is getting difficult to treat vasculitis with conventional therapies, which includes cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, azathioprine and mycophenolate mofetil, with increasing rates of relapses. Since ever, corticosteroids and cytotoxic agents or immunosuppressants have been the mainstay for treating systemic vasculitis. However, the introduction of newer biological agents have bring about a revolution in the treatment of relapses and in cases where there is failure to induce and sustain remission.

Scalp Necrosis Revealing Severe Giant-Cell Arteritis

Giant-cell arteritis (GCA), also referred to as temporal arteritis, is the most common primary vasculitis of the elderly involving the extracranial branches of the carotid arteries, in particular, the temporal artery. Patients usually present with temporal headaches, visual impairment, fever, and scalp tenderness. Scalp necrosis associated with GCA is a rare occurrence with approximately 100 cases reported in the literature to date. It is a therapeutic emergency requiring urgent management as it may lead to irreversible loss of vision. To increase awareness of this severe complication, we report a patient with a scalp necrosis revealing a GCA.

A Review of Primary Vasculitis Mimickers Based on the Chapel Hill Consensus Classification

Primary systemic vasculitides are rare diseases that may manifest similarly to more commonly encountered conditions. Depending on the size of the vessel affected (large vessel, medium vessel, or small vessel), different vasculitis mimics must be considered. Establishing the right diagnosis of a vasculitis mimic will prevent unnecessary immunosuppressive therapy.

Herpesvirus Infection in Development of Hemorrhagic Vasculitis in Children (Literature Review)

The authors conducted a systematic review of the literature published in the last fifteen years. The results of the literature review showed that the role of herpesvirus infection in the occurrence of primary vasculitis is not excluded. In the works of Kazakhstan and foreign researchers who consider that ability of viruses to cytopathic effect is important for herpesvirus infection, herpes simplex infection is not excluded as a leading factor in the development of HV. In this regard, the study of the etiology of HV will help to reach a new therapeutic level of the disease. Consequently, the problem of HV is of scientific interest and practical importance.