Key result
High-dose corticosteroids resolve cranial symptoms and prevent recurrent stroke in giant cell arteritis.
Why the study?
Giant cell arteritis is the most common systemic vasculitis in older adults and may rarely present with cerebrovascular ischaemic events.
Case Report (n=1)
No
Giant cell arteritis should be considered in older adults presenting with recurrent ischemic stroke—even in the anterior circulation and with negative vascular ultrasonography after steroid initiation—when cranial symptoms and elevated inflammatory markers are present.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
Supports considering GCA in older adults with recurrent strokes despite antiplatelet therapy and cranial symptoms; leaves open prospective validation of screening protocols.
Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is the most common systemic vasculitis in older adults and may rarely present with cerebrovascular ischaemic events.We report a case of a woman in her 70s who developed recurrent left middle cerebral artery territory infarctions despite dual antiplatelet therapy.Following the recurrent stroke, further assessment revealed a history of temporal pain, scalp tenderness, headache, transient visual disturbance, and jaw discomfort, with markedly elevated inflammatory markers.Temporal and axillary artery ultrasonography performed after initiation of corticosteroid therapy was normal.Despite negative imaging findings, the overall clinical presentation was considered consistent with GCA-associated stroke.Treatment with high-dose corticosteroids resulted in complete resolution of cranial symptoms and no further cerebrovascular events.This case highlights the importance of considering GCA in older patients presenting with recurrent ischaemic stroke, particularly when accompanied by cranial symptoms and unexplained systemic inflammation.It also demonstrates that anterior circulation infarction may occur in GCA and that negative vascular ultrasonography does not exclude the diagnosis when clinical suspicion remains high.
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Katriye Kelly (2026) conducted a case report in Giant cell arteritis presenting as recurrent left middle cerebral artery territory infarction (n=1). High-dose corticosteroid therapy (IV methylprednisolone followed by oral prednisolone) was evaluated on Resolution of cranial symptoms and prevention of recurrent cerebrovascular events. High-dose corticosteroid therapy resolved cranial symptoms, normalised inflammatory markers (ESR 101 mm/h, CRP 135 mg/L), and prevented further strokes in a woman with giant cell arteritis.
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