Giant cell arteritis and secondary amyloidosis: the natural history

Scand J Rheumatol. 2001;30(2):114-6. doi: 10.1080/03009740151095448.

Abstract

Giant cell (temporal) arteritis (GCA) may be a cause of fever of unknown origin (FUO) in elderly patients. The development of secondary (reactive) amyloidosis is an unusual complication of the disease. We describe a 65-year-old male patient who was hospitalized in our hospital with FUO and was diagnosed as having GCA 5 years later. At that time, he also had a nephrotic syndrome and secondary amyloidosis (AA-type). He died due to end-stage renal failure. The probable explanation for the development of this rare complication might be the late diagnosis of this chronic inflammatory disease, which was left untreated for a long period of time.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Amyloid / analysis
  • Amyloid / classification
  • Amyloidosis / etiology*
  • Amyloidosis / pathology
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Fever of Unknown Origin / etiology
  • Fever of Unknown Origin / pathology
  • Giant Cell Arteritis / complications*
  • Giant Cell Arteritis / drug therapy
  • Giant Cell Arteritis / pathology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Nephrotic Syndrome / etiology
  • Nephrotic Syndrome / pathology
  • Prednisone / therapeutic use
  • Temporal Arteries / pathology

Substances

  • Amyloid
  • Prednisone