Abstract
Polymyalgia rheumatica is a clinical manifestation of giant cell arteritis (GCA) (Bengtsson and Malmvall, 1982). This inflammatory disease involves large and medium-sized arteries. The complications of the disease are mainly caused by arteritic lesions resulting in ischaemia of different organs. Vascular complications are threats to the lives of GCA patients as the disease can involve vital arteries such as the coronaries, the aorta and the cerebral vessels. Fortunately such complications seldom occur in patients who have had a proper diagnosis and corticosteroid treatment. However, series of patients reported before 1950, when corticosteroid treatment became available, include a high frequency of ocular and neurovascular complications. It is now well-established that ischaemic complications of GCA can be prevented by adequate corticosteroid treatment. This chapter will deal mainly with the vascular complications of the disease but it will also discuss the complications in joints. The complications of the disease in the eye and ocular nerve are discussed in Chapter 6. The liver involven~ent of GCA is discussed in Chapter 8, and complications of treatment are discussed in Chapter 9.
Published Version
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