[Liver changes in giant-cell arteritis: temporal arteritis and rheumatic polymyalgia (author's transl)].

Liver changes were demonstrated in six elderly patients with giant-cell arteritis (temporal arteritis, three with polymyalgia). Histologically there was fatty infiltration in four and pericentral congestion in five, star-cell nodules in one and non-specific hepatitis in one. Bromsulphalein test was abnormal in all, but rapidly became normal as the arteritis was successfully treated with corticoids. The pathogenesis of the liver changes is unclear. The authors' observations and published reports suggest that they are typical of giant-cell arteritis; it is of importance in the diagnosis of underlying disease.