Giant Cell Arteritis in Ophthalmology Practice: a Case Report

Abstract

Introduction. Giant cell (temporal) arteritis refers to a group of chronic and acute systemic vasculitis mainly affecting the extracranial and intracranial arteries of large and medium caliber. Loss of vision due to anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (AION) or occlusion of the central retinal artery is one of the most severe and most common complications of giant cell arteritis. This case report describes a patient with giant cell arteritis, the outcome of it was a total vision loss in the right eye. The patient repeatedly visited the ophthalmologists in the outpatient clinics with complaints of intermittent episodes of vision loss. Purpose. To present methods of diagnosis and treatment, through which the doctor at the initial reception will be able to suspect the disease and start treatment timely. Conclusions. The anamnestic criteria for the GCA diagnosis in the practice of ophthalmologist are: female, age over 50 years, headaches with paresthesia, intermittent lameness of the mandible, short-term episodes of vision loss. The necessary laboratory methods of research include: clinical blood test with determination of erythrocyte sedimentation rate, determination of C-reactive protein level.

Keywords

• гигантоклеточный артериит
• височный артериит
• передняя ишемическая нейропатия
• окклюзия центральной артерии сетчатки