Article Text
Abstract
Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is the most common vasculitis in adults and blindness is a common complication if left untreated. Oral glucocorticoids are the mainstay of treatment and if started promptly, loss of vision can usually be prevented. We present the case of a 77-year-old man who developed irreversible bilateral blindness after a confirmed diagnosis of GCA and oral steroid treatment. The roles of diagnostic delay, steroid dosing, significance of visual symptoms at diagnosis and after commencing oral glucocorticoids, and interpretation of ophthalmological signs are reviewed.
- headache (including migraines)
- visual pathway
- vasculitis
- rheumatology
- ophthalmology
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Footnotes
Contributors ALG, JP, LW and DJ have made substantial contributions to the conception of the work, the analysis of the data and the drafting and revising of this article. They have all approved the final version to be submitted for publication.
Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.
Competing interests None declared.
Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed
Patient consent for publication Obtained.