[Clinical aspects of temporal arteritis: course variations up to fatal complications].

BACKGROUND: Arteritis temporalis (AT) shows a variable course of the disease and may lead to transient or permanent visual loss.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: In a retrospective consecutive case series 66 patients with suspected AT were followed up of which 65 underwent arterial biopsy. Symptoms, therapy and complications were followed up.

RESULTS: Of the patients 32 (49.2%) revealed a positive histological finding in unilateral (55.4%) or bilateral (44.6%) biopsy. Of these 3 (9.4%) suffered a severe or fatal outcome: two with extensive ischemia of the vertebrobasilar system (one fatal) and one patient died due to acute pancreatitis, a rare side effect of systemic steroid therapy.

CONCLUSION: When systemically apparent, arteritis temporalis can progress to reduction of general health, cerebral ischemia and organ infarction. Therefore, AT is a serious disease requiring interdisciplinary, immediate diagnostics and prompt therapy.