Giant cell arteritis as a cause of first-ever stroke.

The aims of this study were to assess how frequently giant cell arteritis (GCA) was a cause of first-ever stroke in 4,086 patients in the Lausanne Stroke Registry and to determine the risk factors, patterns, latency and current therapy at onset in patients with GCA plus stroke. GCA was recognized using the criteria of the American College of Rheumatology. We report on 6 patients (0.15%) with a histologically proven diagnosis of temporal arteritis and clinical and neuroradiological evidence of cerebral ischemia. The CT and MRI scans showed lacunar infarction in 3 patients, territorial infarction in 2 and were normal in 1. Stroke latency ranged from 0 to 2 months. All patients suffered from headache. We conclude that stroke is a rare, but dangerous, complication of GCA and that a combination of antiplatelet drugs and corticosteroids may be advisable for preventing stroke occurrence.