Mickley V, Hutschenreiter S, Kogel H, Vogel U, Sunder-Plassmann L
Abt. f. Gefäss-, Thorax- und Herzchirurgie am Universitätsklinikum, Ulm/Donau.
Vasa Suppl. 1992;35:53-4.
At autopsy, affection of the aortic arch and of the arm arteries is found in about 70% of patients with giant cell arteritis. Symptoms occur in only about 5% of them. Arteriography often shows typical spindle-shaped stenoses or tapered occlusions of the diseased vessels. Arterial stenoses are successfully treated with corticosteroids. In case of chronic occlusion, however, ischemia-induced symptoms may necessitate an operation. Endarterectomy should be preferred to bypass procedures. Subsequent long-term corticosteroid treatment should be instituted in order to treat the underlying disease, and to prevent reocclusions.
