Temporal arteritis without an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate: Case report and review of the literature

Abstract

An elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate is regarded as a hallmark of temporal arteritis. Thirty-five cases of biopsy-proved temporal arteritis without an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate are identified, and a 36th case is described. All patients had age-adjusted normal Westergren sedimentation rates, 16 with sedimentation rates of 20 mm per hour or less and 20 with sedimentation rates of 21 to 40 mm per hour. Twenty-two patients had sufficient clinical information for analysis and comparison with reported series of patients with biopsy-proved temporal arteritis with an elevated Westergren sedimentation rate. Headache (41 percent), temporal artery abnormalities (41 percent), and visual symptoms (36 percent) were the most common manifestations in patients without an elevated sedimentation rate. Headache (41 percent versus 75 percent, p <0.05) and jaw claudication (9 percent versus 43 percent, p <0.025) were found less often in the patients without an elevated sedimentation rate. History and physical examination are essential in the diagnosis of temporal arteritis with a normal Westergren sedimentation rate.