[Horton's disease presenting as a myocardial infarction].

The authors report the case of a 60-year-old man admitted for uncomplicated acute myocardial infarction. The history of persistent fronto-occipital headaches and palpation of bilateral tortuous temporal arteries with a decreased pulse suggested the diagnosis of temporal arteritis, particularly in the presence of marked laboratory signs of inflammation and the coronary angiograph findings. The diagnosis was confirmed by temporal artery biopsy. Treatment consisted of corticosteroid therapy, with a satisfactory outcome at three months. The diagnosis of temporal arteritis should be systematically suggested in patients over the age of 50 years, presenting with a marked inflammatory syndrome and recent-onset arterial disease. Similarly, any form of arterial disease occurring during treated temporal arteritis should initially be considered to be a secondary site of the arteritis, requiring intensification of corticosteroid therapy.