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Temporal arteritis with scalp ulceration and blindness
Author(s) -
Gkalpakiotis Spyridon,
Arenberger Petr,
Sach Josef,
Arenbergerova Monika
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
jddg: journal der deutschen dermatologischen gesellschaft
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.463
H-Index - 60
eISSN - 1610-0387
pISSN - 1610-0379
DOI - 10.1111/j.1610-0387.2010.07469.x
Subject(s) - medicine , giant cell arteritis , arteritis , scalp , erythrocyte sedimentation rate , vasculitis , optic neuritis , dermatology , pathology , surgery , multiple sclerosis , disease , psychiatry
Summary Temporal arteritis or giant cell arteritis is a systemic granulomatous vasculitis of medium and large‐sized arteries, most frequently involving the temporal artery. It presents with headache, fever, elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate and anemia. If untreated, complications like ischemic optic neuritis may even lead to blindness. Although very rare, scalp necrosis and ulcerations are the most common dermatologic findings. An 85‐year‐old woman presented with a two‐month history of bilateral scalp ulcerations, followed by permanent loss of vision in the left eye due to the delay in diagnosing temporal arteritis.