Pulmonary artery obstruction due to giant cell arteritis

Vasculitis in the intensive care unit

The systemic vasculitides are a diverse set of diseases linked by the presence of blood-vessel inflammation and are often associated with life-threatening or critical complications, including glomerulonephritis, diffuse alveolar haemorrhage, pulmonary arterial hypertension and airway compromise. The protean manifestations of the systemic vasculitides make them challenging to diagnose. Early recognition, however, is crucial to improving outcomes. This article serves as an introduction to these complex diseases, reviewing the manifestations of systemic vasculitis that may be encountered in an intensive care setting, and outlines an overall approach to their treatment.

A case of pulmonary asbestosis presenting with temporal arteritis involving multiple medium-sized vessels

A 76-year-old woman with pulmonary asbestosis was admitted with fever and polymyalgia. She subsequently developed a visual disorder, hemoptysis, and hemoperitoneum. A biopsy of the temporal artery revealed the presence of giant-cell arteritis. CT and angiography showed hemorrhaging from the bronchial and abdominal arteries. These observations suggested temporal arteritis in which medium-sized vessels were involved. This case implies the association between vasculitis and asbestosis, and suggests a problem in the classification of vasculitides.

Pulmonary vasculitis

Pulmonary vascular inflammation may be seen in a variety of primary lung diseases and in the setting of numerous systemic illnesses. This article reviews those entities in which pulmonary vasculitis represents a central feature of the pathologic process (Wegener's granulomatosis, Churg-Strauss syndrome, and pulmonary capillaritis). In addition, features of pulmonary involvement in other systemic vasculitides (Giant Cell Arteritis, Takayasu's Arteritis, and Behçet's disease) are described. Finally, general principles for the treatment of vasculitis are reviewed.

Pleural effusion as a presenting manifestation of giant cell arteritis

Pulmonary involvement is rare in giant cell arteritis (GCA). Only a few cases have been reported, manifested by interstitial infiltration, pulmonary nodules, pulmonary artery vasculitis, and granuloma formation. Moreover, only 3 previous cases of pleural effusion associated with GCA have been described. Herein we report a 67-year-old woman with biopsy-proven temporal arteritis, presented with prolonged fever, weight loss, cough and pleural effusion. ELISA test for the presence of anti- proteinase-3 antibodies was negative. The importance of the anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic-antibodies (ANCA) examination in the differential diagnosis from other vasculitides with pulmonary involvement is discussed.

Temporal arteritis: a form of systemic panarteritis

The case is reported of a patient with giant cell arteritis affecting several organs. The triggering cause of death was a brainstem infarction due to basilar artery thrombosis. The necropsy showed the systemic character of the disease affecting the coronary, bronchial, and ovarian arteries.

Clinical and laboratory findings with giant cell arteritis

Out of 66 patients who were diagnosed as suffering from polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR; n = 40), temporal arteritis (AT; n = 14) or both (n = 12) in a 6.5 year period (incidence 3.4/100,000 per year), 9 died and 49 were followed up for an average period of 28 months. Exacerbations of the illness (n = 24) and complications in the course (n = 32) were more frequent with an initial ESR greater than 90 mm/h. Postural vertigo (n = 11), amaurosis fugax (n = 11) and polyneuropathy (n = 8) were the most frequent neurological complications. Persisting unilateral blindness and aromatic anosmia developed in 2 patients each. Complications were significantly more frequent in patients with initial symptoms of AT (chi 2 P less than 0.001). CRP-levels correlated better with persisting symptoms in the course than did the ESR. Recurrences after treatment were significantly more frequent when the length of corticosteroid-therapy was less than 20 months (chi 2 P less than 0.009). On follow up there were normal values for neopterin, tumour necrosis factor and antibodies against Borrelia burgdorferi.

Reversible pulmonary artery obstruction in a patient with bronchogenic carcinoma. Diagnosis by two-dimensional and Doppler echocardiography

Neoplastic invasion of the pulmonary arteries, although common, rarely results in obstruction to right ventricular outflow. We report an unusual case of severe pulmonary hypertension, right ventricular dilatation, and righ ventricular dysfunction resulting from pulmonary arterial compression by bronchogenic carcinoma. The diagnosis was made by two-dimensional and Doppler echocardiography and supported by computed tomographic findings. Echocardiography was used to follow the patient's response to therapy and documented the subsequent resolution of pulmonary arterial obstruction.