[Temporal arteritis--diagnosis and therapeutic control].

33 patients suffering from temporal arteriitis (Morbus Horton) were investigated noninvasively by Oculo-Oscillo-Dynamography (OODG), Orbita-Dynamography (ODG) and Temporalis-Dynamography (TDG). The ocular, orbital and temporal oscillograms and oscillodynamograms revealed characteristic and unmistakable alterations; i.e., striking reduction of the pulse volumes and a decrease of the blood pressures in the respective circulatory regions as a result of a stenosing and occluding vascular process. The 3 methods yielded typical patterns of the occluding process, which led to the conclusion that in untreated persons the stenosing process of the arteritis cranialis tends to start in the vascular branches of the external carotid artery and subsequently includes branches of the internal carotid system, such as the ophthalmic artery. High doses of prednisolone resulted in reopening of the vessels that had been stenosed and occluded by arteritis, and in most cases restored normal circulation in the regions examined within several weeks or months. From the investigations made on 66 eyes of the 33 patients, the authors conclude that combined use of OODG, ODG, and TDG makes it possible to diagnose temporal arteritis with a high degree of certainty. In all 33 cases the disease was diagnosed with OODG, ODG and TDG and confirmed histologically. Since the OODG, ODG, TDG examinations are well tolerated by the patient and can be repeated at any time, it is suggested to employ them for the supervision of therapy as well to detect any possible relapse of the inflammatory occluding vascular process.