tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
BMJ Case Rep
. 2024 Dec 15;17(12):e261988.
doi: 10.1136/bcr-2024-261988. Giant cell arteritis following SARS-CoV-2 infection
Sepehr Fekrazad[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Jonathan A Micieli[SUP] 3 4 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is a vasculitis characterised by arterial inflammation, with permanent vision loss being a feared complication. The association between GCA and viral infections is well-known, but there is limited data regarding its relationship to COVID-19. A man in his 80s with a recent history of COVID-19 developed sudden vision loss, persistent headaches and jaw claudication. Ophthalmological findings raised the suspicion of a GCA diagnosis, which was confirmed by temporal artery biopsy. Treatment with prednisone stabilised vision and resolved systemic symptoms. Reports suggest a potential temporal correlation between GCA onset and COVID-19 infection, warranting further investigation into potential mechanisms and clinical implications. This case supports an infectious trigger for GCA, which is a leading theory regarding its pathogenesis.
Keywords: Ophthalmology; Retina; Visual pathway.
. 2024 Dec 15;17(12):e261988.
doi: 10.1136/bcr-2024-261988. Giant cell arteritis following SARS-CoV-2 infection
Sepehr Fekrazad[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Jonathan A Micieli[SUP] 3 4 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 39675794
- DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2024-261988
Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is a vasculitis characterised by arterial inflammation, with permanent vision loss being a feared complication. The association between GCA and viral infections is well-known, but there is limited data regarding its relationship to COVID-19. A man in his 80s with a recent history of COVID-19 developed sudden vision loss, persistent headaches and jaw claudication. Ophthalmological findings raised the suspicion of a GCA diagnosis, which was confirmed by temporal artery biopsy. Treatment with prednisone stabilised vision and resolved systemic symptoms. Reports suggest a potential temporal correlation between GCA onset and COVID-19 infection, warranting further investigation into potential mechanisms and clinical implications. This case supports an infectious trigger for GCA, which is a leading theory regarding its pathogenesis.
Keywords: Ophthalmology; Retina; Visual pathway.