Giant-cell arteritis (GCA) is a disease that may affect more than 1% of the elderly white population. Extracranial GCA, usually involving the aorta and its major branches, has been reported to be clinically detectable in 10% to 15% of patients with GCA.1 When large vessels are involved, GCA may be life threatening because of aortic dissection, ruptured aortic aneurysm, and, more rarely, myocardial infarction. Despite these complications, the survival rate is not usually considered to be reduced when compared with the general population of the same age.2
Report of a Case.
—An 82-year-old white woman was referred to the neuro-ophthalmology service complaining of visual loss in the left eye of 2 days' duration. She had not felt well for the previous several months, noting headaches, difficulty chewing food, and arthralgias. An examination revealed visual acuity of 20/20 OD and 20/25 OS, with superior altitudinal visual field loss and