Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

Clin Ophthalmol 2019 21;13:421-430. Epub 2019 Feb 21.

Ophthalmology, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA.

Purpose: To develop and validate neural network (NN) vs logistic regression (LR) diagnostic prediction models in patients with suspected giant cell arteritis (GCA). Design: Multicenter retrospective chart review.

Methods: An audit of consecutive patients undergoing temporal artery biopsy (TABx) for suspected GCA was conducted at 14 international medical centers. Read More

Can J Ophthalmol 2019 Feb 12;54(1):119-124. Epub 2018 Nov 12.

Department of Ophthalmology, Queens University, Kingston, Ont.

Objective: The incidence of giant cell arteritis (GCA) is insufficiently documented for Canada, but important to ascertain for public health planning. We estimate the incidence of biopsy-proven GCA (BPGCA) in Kingston, Ontario, and for the province of Ontario.

Method: The number of cases of BPGCA was tabulated from retrospective chart review of all temporal artery biopsies (TABx) in Kingston, Ontario from 2011-15. Read More

Can J Ophthalmol 2019 Feb 31;54(1):116-118. Epub 2018 Aug 31.

Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States.; Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ont.

Objective: Support vector machines (SVM) is a newer statistical method that has been reported to be advantageous to traditional logistic regression for clinical classification. We determine if SVM can better predict the results of temporal artery biopsy (TABx) for giant cell arteritis compared to logistic regression.

Method: A database of 530 TABx patients with 10 covariates was used and randomly split into training and test sets. Read More

Arthritis Rheumatol 2019 Mar 8. Epub 2019 Mar 8.

Departments of Rheumatology, Nuclear Medicine and Anatomical Pathology, Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, Sydney, NSW, 2065, Australia.

Objectives: PET/CT has not been well studied as a first-line test for giant cell arteritis (GCA). In part this is due to historical limitations in visualizing the cranial arteries. The Giant Cell Arteritis and PET Scan (GAPS) study assessed the accuracy of a newer generation PET/CT of the head, neck and chest for GCA. Read More

Autoimmun Rev 2019 Mar 4. Epub 2019 Mar 4.

Department of internal medicine, Hôtel-Dieu, CHU Nantes, Nantes, France. Electronic address:

Introduction: Juvenile temporal arteritis (JTA) is a recently-described and little-known inflammatory disease and its etiology is undetermined. Less than forty cases have been published. This paper is aimed at reporting the largest JTA series and to compare it to literature data to better evaluate its characteristics at diagnosis, its evolution and treatment options. Read More

Scand J Rheumatol 2019 Mar 6:1-7. Epub 2019 Mar 6.

g Rheumatology, Department of Medical Sciences , Uppsala University , Uppsala , Sweden.

Objective: To develop evidence-based guidelines for the management of giant cell arteritis (GCA) as a complement to guidelines in other areas of rheumatology, issued by the Swedish Society of Rheumatology.

Methods: A working group selected key areas for recommendations, reviewed the available evidence, and wrote draft guidelines. These were discussed and revised according to standard procedures within the Swedish Society of Rheumatology, including a one-day meeting open to all members. Read More

World Neurosurg 2019 Mar 1. Epub 2019 Mar 1.

Department of Neurosurgery, Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, 226014, India.

Background: Paraganglioma in cavernous sinus is a rare entity often misdiagnosed as meningioma or schwanomma on radiology. The embryological origin, from cells of neural crest, does not explain location per se. Due to highly vascular nature and close proximity to carotid artery, surgical excision is a challenge. Read More

J Rheumatol 2019 Mar 1. Epub 2019 Mar 1.

From the Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA; Division of Rheumatology, Immunology, and Allergy, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. Address correspondence to Robert F. Padera, Jr., MD, PhD, Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 75 Francis Street, Boston, MA, 02115. e-mail:

Objective: A variety of infectious agents, including varicella zoster virus (VZV), have been hypothesized to play a role in the pathogenesis of giant cell arteritis (GCA). The detectability of the virus in patients with GCA has been controversial. To further investigate an association between GCA and VZV infection, ten years of GCA cases were evaluated for VZV by immunohistochemistry (IHC). Read More

World Neurosurg 2019 Feb 26. Epub 2019 Feb 26.

Department of Neurosurgery, Kurume University School of Medicine, Fukuoka, Japan.

Background: Several possible mechanisms exist for the spread of a primary tumor to the leptomeninges in leptomeningeal carcinomatosis. This report describes a case caused by direct bleeding in the subarachnoid space from a neoplastic cerebral aneurysm rupture.

Case Description: A 48-year-old Japanese woman, who was diagnosed with breast carcinoma (pT3 pN2 M0) at the age of 45 years and underwent mastectomy and chemotherapy, was admitted in a coma following a sudden-onset severe headache. Read More

Folia Morphol (Warsz) 2019 Feb 28. Epub 2019 Feb 28.

Oddział Neurologii, Szpital Czerniakowski, Stępińska 19/25, 00-739 Warszawa, Poland.

We present a case of patient with a rare vessel pathology - arteriovenous fistula (AVF) of superficial temporal artery and vein. The 56-year old man was admitted to the Department of Neurology because of a headache in the right temporal region with concomitant buzzing sound in his right ear. The pain was present mainly in the evenings and was stronger when touching the temporal region. Read More

J Vis Exp 2019 Feb 8(144). Epub 2019 Feb 8.

Department of Medicine, Penn State University.

Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is a chronic immune-mediated disease of medium-to-large sized arteries that affects older adults. GCA manifests with arthritis and occlusive symptoms of headaches, stroke or vision loss. Macrophages and T-helper lymphocytes infiltrate the vascular wall and produce a pro-inflammatory response that lead to vessel damage and ischemia. Read More

Med Ultrason 2019 Feb;21(1):89-92

Department of Neurosurgery and Stroke Center, Tenri Hospital, Tenri, Japan.

In-stent plaque protrusion (ISP) is a predictor for ischemic complications in carotid artery stenting (CAS). Because its mobility would further increase the distal embolization risk, the intraprocedural detection of mobility is important but has not yet been reported. We present an 87-year-old male with symptomatic right carotid artery stenosis who underwent CAS. Read More

Front Immunol 2019 29;10:83. Epub 2019 Jan 29.

Department Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands.

Giant cell arteritis (GCA) can be classified into Cranial(C)-GCA and Large Vessel(LV)-GCA. Based on analysis of temporal arteries, GCA is postulated to be T-cell-mediated. Recently, a disturbed B-cell homeostasis was documented in newly diagnosed GCA patients. Read More

Scand J Rheumatol 2019 Feb 13:1-2. Epub 2019 Feb 13.

a Department of Internal Medicine , Tomakomai City Hospital , Tomakomai , Japan.

Eur J Case Rep Intern Med 2018 25;5(5):000779. Epub 2018 May 25.

Department of Internal Medicine, Ikazia Ziekenhuis, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

We describe a 58-year-old woman presenting with headache and an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), who was diagnosed with and successfully treated for giant-cell arteritis (GCA). Seven months after the end of treatment, ovarian GCA was incidentally found after ovariectomy for a simple cyst. GCA of extracranial vessels like the ovarian arteries is rare. Read More

Pulmonology 2019 Feb 9. Epub 2019 Feb 9.

Internal Medicine Service, Centro Hospitalar Tondela-Viseu, E.P.E., Portugal. Electronic address:

Giant Cell Arteritis (GCA) is a common systemic vasculitis that involves medium and large arteries, most frequently extracranial branches of the carotid artery. Prompt diagnosis and treatment is essential to prevent devastating complications, such as blindness, stroke and aortic aneurysm or dissection. Typical symptoms include headache, temporal artery tenderness and jaw claudication. Read More

Rev Med Chil 2018 Nov;146(11):1356-1360

Departamento de Ciencias Neurológicas Oriente, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile.

Giant cell arteritis is the most common vasculitis in patients aged over 50 years. We report an 89-year-old woman with significant weight loss and persistent frontal-occipital headaches lasting two months. The neurological examination at admission identified a decrease in visual acuity of the left eye, paralysis of the third cranial nerve of the right eye and alterations of body motility without objective signs of damage of the motor or sensitive pathways. Read More

Neuroophthalmology 2019 Feb 19;43(1):18-25. Epub 2018 Jun 19.

Harvard University Ophthalmology, Beth Israel Deaconness, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.

Purpose: To determine the positive yield (utility rate) of temporal artery biopsy (TAB) in patients with suspected giant cell arteritis (GCA).

Study Design: Systematic review (CRD42017078508) and meta-regression.

Materials And Methods: All articles concerning TAB for suspected GCA with English language abstracts from 1998 to 2017 were retrieved. Read More

Neurosurg Focus 2019 Feb;46(2):E2

1Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, Virginia; and.

While the majority of cerebral revascularization advancements were made in the last century, it is worth noting the humble beginnings of vascular surgery throughout history to appreciate its progression and application to neurovascular pathology in the modern era. Nearly 5000 years of basic human inquiry into the vasculature and its role in neurological disease has resulted in the complex neurosurgical procedures used today to save and improve lives. This paper explores the story of the extracranial-intracranial approach to cerebral revascularization. Read More

Aesthetic Plast Surg 2019 Apr 30;43(2):383-387. Epub 2019 Jan 30.

Department of Neurology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, No. 71, Xinmin Street, Changchun City, 130021, Jilin Province, China.

Background: There have been several reports of patients experiencing cerebral embolisms following the injection of autologous fat into the face during cosmetic surgery. These embolisms likely resulted from unintentional introduction of fat particles into facial arteries, which then reached the cerebral arteries by retrograde motion.

Case Presentation: We describe here a patient who developed an internal carotid artery (ICA) embolism after autologous fat injection for temporal augmentation. Read More

Rev Assoc Med Bras (1992) 2018 Aug;64(8):684-691

. PhD in Pathology, Professor of Postgraduate Course Health Sciences, Universidade Federal do Triângulo Mineiro (UFTM), Uberaba (MG), Brasil.

Background And Purpose: Cerebral atherosclerosis is the main cause of lesions that contribute to vascular cognitive impairment and vascular dementia, followed by arteriosclerosis of small vessels and cerebral amyloid angiopathy. The purpose of this study was to compare the post-mortem radiological alterations of autopsied adults with the macroscopic alterations in the posterior region of these brains in order to establish a relationship between the two forms of analysis and to discuss the relevance of the prevention of vascular cognitive impairment in patients with encephalic atherosclerosis.

Materials And Methods: Thirteen brains were analysed macroscopically to assess the degree of atherosclerosis of the basilar and the posterior cerebral arteries. Read More

Clin Ophthalmol 2019 10;13:153-160. Epub 2019 Jan 10.

Department of Anesthesia, Michael Garron Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON Canada.

This study discusses local anesthetic agents, administration techniques, ancillary considerations, and safety precautions for oculoplastic surgery including eyelid, lacrimal, orbital, and temporal artery biopsy procedures. Methods for reducing patient apprehension and discomfort including systemic premedication, topical pre-anesthetic, visual, auditory and tactile distraction techniques, regional blocks, small gauge needles, warmed lidocaine, and buffered lidocaine are discussed. Read More

J Ophthalmol 2018 18;2018:8324093. Epub 2018 Dec 18.

Division of Ophthalmology, Sourasky Medical Center, Affiliated with Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.

Purpose: To evaluate the change in choroidal thickness after carotid artery endarterectomy (CEA) in patients without retinal pathology.

Methods: A prospective series of patients who underwent CEA at the Tel Aviv Medical Center. Spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) was performed one day before the CEA and at least 6 months after. Read More

J Rheumatol 2019 Jan 15. Epub 2019 Jan 15.

From the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, and the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Department of Health Sciences Research, Rochester, Minnesota, USA; Division of Rheumatology, Azienda Ospedaliera, Unità Sanitaria Locale-Institute for Research and Health Care (USL-IRCCS) di Reggio Emilia e Università di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Modena e Reggio Emilia, Italy; Universidad Del Desarrollo, Clinica Alemana, Santiago, Chile. M.J. Koster, MD, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology; K. Yeruva, MD, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology; C.S. Crowson, PhD, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, and the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Department of Health Sciences Research; F. Muratore, MD, Division of Rheumatology, Azienda Osedaliera, USL-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia e Università di Modena e Reggio Emilia; C. Labarca, MD, Universidad Del Desarrollo, Clinica Alemana; K.J. Warrington, MD, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology. Address correspondence to Dr. M.J. Koster, Mayo Clinic, 200 1st St. SW, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, USA. E-mail: Accepted for publication October 10, 2018.

Objective: To determine the effect of methotrexate (MTX) on relapse risk and glucocorticoid (GC) use in a large single-institution cohort of patients with giant cell arteritis (GCA).

Methods: Patients diagnosed with GCA from 1998 to 2013 with confirmed evidence of temporal artery biopsy and/or radiographic evidence of large vessel vasculitis were identified. Each patient with GCA treated with adjunct MTX (case) was matched to a similar patient with GCA treated only with GC (control). Read More

J Autoimmun 2019 Mar 10;98:113-121. Epub 2019 Jan 10.

Unit of Rheumatology, Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy; Department of Surgery, Medicine, Dentistry and Morphological Sciences with Interest in Transplant, Oncology and Regenerative Medicine, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.

Tuftsin-PhosphorylCholine (TPC) is a novel bi-specific molecule which links tuftsin and phosphorylcholine. TPC has shown immunomodulatory activities in experimental mouse models of autoimmune diseases. We studied herein the effects of TPC ex vivo on both peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and temporal artery biopsies (TABs) obtained from patients with giant cell arteritis (GCA) and age-matched disease controls. Read More

Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 2019 Feb 9;316(2):R172-R185. Epub 2019 Jan 9.

Departments of Internal Medicine and Physiology, Wayne State University School of Medicine , Detroit, Michigan.

The subfornical organ (SFO), a forebrain circumventricular organ that lies outside the blood-brain barrier, has been implicated in arterial pressure and baroreflex responses to angiotensin II (ANG II). We tested whether pharmacological inhibition or selective silencing of SFO ANG II type 1 receptors (ATR) of two-kidney, one-clip rats with elevated plasma ANG II decreases resting arterial pressure and renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA) and/or modulates arterial baroreflex responses of heart rate (HR) and RSNA. Male Sprague-Dawley rats underwent renal artery clipping [2-kidney, 1-clip (2K,1C)] or sham clipping (sham). Read More

Clin Exp Rheumatol 2019 Jan 4. Epub 2019 Jan 4.

Centre for Arthritis and Rheumatic Diseases, St Vincent's University Hospital, Dublin Academic Medical Centre, Dublin, Ireland.

Objectives: The diagnosis of giant cell arteritis (GCA) is primarily a clinical one. Temporal artery (TA) ultrasound (US) has been proposed as a new diagnostic tool. We aimed to assess the performance characteristics of TA US in routine clinical practice. Read More

Clin Exp Rheumatol 2019 Jan 7. Epub 2019 Jan 7.

Department of Ophthalmology, Roski Eye Institute, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, and Department of Ophthalmology, Moran Eye Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.

Objectives: Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is a vasculitis that affects large and medium sized arteries. The aetiology of GCA is unknown and numerous risk factors have been proposed. In this article, we evaluate the incidence of biopsy-positive GCA in Northern California and assess for seasonal variation. Read More

Cytokine 2019 Feb 26;114:61-66. Epub 2018 Dec 26.

Department of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India. Electronic address:

Background: Toll-like receptors (TLR) 1 to 4 are highly expressed in aorta. Activation of TLR4 causes transmural arteritis in Human temporal artery-SCID chimera model. Neither TLR-4 nor its ligands have been studied in TA patients as yet. Read More

Reumatol Clin 2018 Dec 23. Epub 2018 Dec 23.

Servicio de Reumatología, Hospital Universitario La Paz, Madrid, España.

Neuroimage Clin 2019 19;21:101609. Epub 2018 Nov 19.

Institute for Cognitive Neurology and Dementia Research, University of Magdeburg, Germany; German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Magdeburg, Germany; Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, Univ. College London, London, United Kingdom. Electronic address:

Considerable evidence suggests a close relationship between vascular and degenerative pathology in the human hippocampus. Due to the intrinsic fragility of its vascular network, the hippocampus appears less able to cope with hypoperfusion and anoxia than other cortical areas. Although hippocampal blood supply is generally provided by the collateral branches of the posterior cerebral artery (PCA) and the anterior choroidal artery (AChA), different vascularization patterns have been detected postmortem. Read More

Aerosp Med Hum Perform 2019 Jan;90(1):53-57

Spontaneous aneurysm of the superficial temporal artery in a helicopter pilot while operating in the extreme cold climatic conditions of a very high altitude area led to a thorough search for etiological possibilities related to this case. A 38-yr-old military helicopter pilot, while flying at altitudes ranging from 4500 m to 6000 m (15,000 to 20,000 ft) reported with an acute onset of a subcutaneous swelling on his left temple. History and clinical profile did not suggest any traumatic, hematologic, or vasculitic etiology. Read More

BMC Ophthalmol 2018 Dec 12;18(1):317. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

Neurology division, Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Background: This report highlights a rare case of simultaneous bilateral blindness due to posterior ischemic optic neuropathy. Typically, ophthalmic involvement in giant cell arteritis is monocular or sequential ischemia of the anterior portion of the optic nerve, and less frequently simultaneous.

Case Presentation: An 80-year-old Saudi male came with a history of simultaneous bilateral vision loss 5 days prior to presentation. Read More

Sci Signal 2018 Dec 11;11(560). Epub 2018 Dec 11.

Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53792, USA.

Ischemic stroke, which is caused by a clot that blocks blood flow to the brain, can be severely disabling and sometimes fatal. We previously showed that transient focal ischemia in a rat model induces extensive temporal changes in the expression of cerebral microRNAs, with a sustained decrease in the abundance of miR-7a-5p (miR-7). Here, we evaluated the therapeutic efficacy of a miR-7 mimic oligonucleotide after cerebral ischemia in rodents according to the Stroke Treatment Academic Industry Roundtable (STAIR) criteria. Read More

Ir Med J 2018 08 13;111(7):791. Epub 2018 Aug 13.

Department of Rheumatology, Mercy University Hospital, Cork, Ireland

Aim To present an interesting case of giant cell arteritis presenting as ischaemic upper limb. Methods Data was collected from the patient’s chart and from radiology and laboratory systems in our institution. Results The patient had a temporal artery biopsy confirming the diagnosis of temporal arteritis. Read More

Rheumatology (Oxford) 2018 Dec 4. Epub 2018 Dec 4.

Rheumatology Unit, Azienda USL-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia and Università di Modena e Reggio Emilia.

Objective: To evaluate the influence of disease-related findings and treatment outcomes on survival in a population-based cohort of Northern Italian patients with GCA.

Methods: A total of 281 patients with incident temporal artery biopsy (TAB)-proven GCA, diagnosed over a 26-year period (1986-2012) and living in the Reggio Emilia area, were retrospectively evaluated. We analysed clinical, imaging and laboratory findings at diagnosis, pathological patterns of TAB, CS treatment and therapeutic outcomes, and traditional cardiovascular risk factors as factors predictive of survival. Read More

Arch Pathol Lab Med 2018 Nov 30. Epub 2018 Nov 30.

From the University of Sydney, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia (Dr Gupta); the Department of Head and Neck and Oral Pathology, Guy's Hospital, London, United Kingdom (Dr Sandison); the Department of Pathology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida (Dr Wenig); and the Department of Pathology, Southern California Permanente Medical Group, Woodland Hills Medical Center, Woodland Hills (Dr Thompson).

The International Collaboration on Cancer Reporting (ICCR) was established to internationally unify and standardize the pathologic reporting of cancers based on collected evidence, as well as to allow systematic multi-institutional intercountry data collection to guide cancer care in the future. Such collaborative efforts are particularly essential for developing an evidence base for rare neoplasms, or those with marked geographic variation in incidence, such as the tumors of the ear and the temporal bone. The ear and the temporal bone, including the external auditory canal and the middle and inner ear, with the closely associated facial nerve, internal carotid artery, and internal jugular vein, is one of the most complex anatomic structures in the head and neck. Read More

Neuroscience 2019 01 24;397:41-55. Epub 2018 Nov 24.

Centre for Neuroscience studies, Queen's University, Kingston, Canada; Translational Stroke Research Lab, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Health Sciences, Queen's University, Kingston, Canada. Electronic address:

Stroke is the second leading cause of death worldwide. Brain imaging data from experimental rodent stroke models suggest that size and location of the ischemic lesion relate to behavioral outcome. However, such a relationship between these two variables has not been established in Non-Human Primate (NHP) models. Read More

Scand J Rheumatol 2018 Nov 21:1-5. Epub 2018 Nov 21.

h Division of Rheumatology , University of Pennsylvania , Philadelphia , PA , USA.

Objective: To assess the strength of the effect of cardiovascular risk factors on the incidence of giant cell arteritis (GCA) in a general population context.

Method: Data from the Reykjavik Study (RS), a population-based cohort study focusing on cardiovascular disease, were used. Everyone born in 1907-1935 living in Reykjavik, Iceland, or adjacent communities on 1 December 1967 were invited to participate. Read More

Intern Med 2018 Nov 19. Epub 2018 Nov 19.

Department of General Internal Medicine, Hiroshima University Hospital, Japan.

A 78-year-old woman with fever of unknown origin that had persisted for 3 months, systemic edema, and cervical lymphadenopathy was admitted to our hospital. Skin purpura and jaw claudication were subsequently observed. Histopathological examinations of the lymph nodes, skin, and temporal artery revealed findings characteristic of eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA). Read More

J Neurol Surg A Cent Eur Neurosurg 2019 Jan 15;80(1):39-43. Epub 2018 Nov 15.

Department of Neurosurgery, BG-Klinikum Bergmannstrost GmbH, Merseburger Straße 165, Halle 06112, Germany.

Background: Superficial temporal artery to middle cerebral artery (STA-MCA) bypass is a treatment option for hemodynamic insufficiency in the anterior cerebral circulation. Complications associated with extracranial-intracranial bypass surgeries are ischemic strokes caused by bypass failure, wound-healing disorders, and further issues from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage. CSF leakage can provide pathways for infection. Read More

Ocul Immunol Inflamm 2018 Nov 14:1-4. Epub 2018 Nov 14.

a Mason Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology , University of Missouri School of Medicine , Columbia , MO , USA.

Purpose: To describe a case of p-ANCA associated vasculitis in a patient with bilateral vision loss with no systemic symptoms or signsMethods: A descriptive review of a caseResults: We report a case of bilateral sequential vision loss in a 73-year-old woman who had no constitutional symptoms except headache and was found to have positive p-ANCA and lymphocytic infiltration on bilateral temporal artery biopsy. Despite the early administration of systemic corticosteroids, the visual outcome was unfavorable.

Conclusion: It is important to consider ANCA associated vasculitides when temporal artery biopsy does not support GCA. Read More

Oncotarget 2018 Oct 5;9(78):34699-34707. Epub 2018 Oct 5.

Internal Medicine and Stroke Care Ward, Dipartimento Biomedico di Medicina Interna e Specialistica, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.

Background: Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy has been indicated as an important cause of spontaneous non-hypertensive intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH).

Aims: to analyze the presence of β-amyloid deposit in the temporal artery of consecutive patients with ICH in comparison to control subjects and its relation to APO-E haplotype frequency.

Methods: We enrolled consecutive patients admitted to Neurosurgery Ward of University Hospital "P. Read More

Autoimmun Rev 2019 Jan 5;18(1):56-61. Epub 2018 Nov 5.

Service de rhumatologie, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg, Université de Strasbourg, Centre National de Référence des Maladies Systémiques Autoimmunes Rares RESO, F-67000 Strasbourg, France. Electronic address:

Despite major recent advances in the therapeutic management of Giant cell arteritis (GCA), the diagnosis accuracy of temporal artery ultrasound remains controversial in this disease. We performed a systematic review to determine the sensitivity, specificity, and summary positive (LR+) and negative (LR-) likelihood ratios of temporal artery ultrasound for the diagnosis of GCA. For this, we searched EMBASE, MEDLINE and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews without language restriction. Read More

Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina 2018 10;49(10):e157-e160

A 73-year-old woman with 2 weeks of progressive painless vision loss was found to have bilateral corneal edema, jaw claudication, and temporal headache. Multimodal imaging revealed an Amalric choroidal infarct in the left eye visualized by widefield indocyanine green angiography and swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography (SS-OCTA). Prompt intravenous corticosteroid treatment resulted in 20/20 vision, and giant cell arteritis (GCA) was confirmed by a temporal artery biopsy. Read More

Chaos 2018 Oct;28(10):106311

Department of Physiology, University of Rostock, Universitätsmedizin, Oscar-Langendorff Institut für Physiologie, Gertrudenstr. 9, D-18057 Rostock, Germany.

Spontaneous activity of vascular smooth muscle is present in small arteries and some venous tissues like the hepatic portal vein. Whereas the ability to generate rhythmic membrane potential changes is expressed in a high number of primary oscillators, the generation of physiological tone and phasic activity requires synchronization of specialized pacemaker activity (Interstitial Cajal-like cells) by intercellular propagation and regeneration of excitation or a strong coupling mechanism of smooth muscle cells. The aim of this study was to deduce oscillator coupling by analyzing the spatiotemporal homogeneity of calcium oscillations within a native tissue preparation. Read More

BMC Ophthalmol 2018 Oct 30;18(1):282. Epub 2018 Oct 30.

Department of Rheumatology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200040, China.

Background: Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is a systemic vasculitis of medium and large-size vessels and can led to permanent visual loss in elderly patients. GCA is very rare among Asians. We report a Chinese patient presenting with acute bilateral anterior ischemic optic neuropathy, and the temporal artery biopsy proved the diagnose of GCA. Read More

Stroke 2018 Sep;49(9):2233-2236

From the Department of Radiology and Department of Rheumatology, St. Vincent's University Hospital, Elm Park, Dublin, Ireland.

Background and Purpose- The diagnosis of giant-cell arteritis (GCA) is challenging. Superficial temporal artery biopsy and ultrasound are positive in only 50%. We evaluated computed tomographic angiography (CTA) of the head in GCA. Read More

J Clin Neurosci 2018 Dec 13;58:221-223. Epub 2018 Oct 13.

Department of Neurosurgery, Sapporo Medical University, Sapporo, Japan.

Aneurysms of the internal carotid artery (ICA) arising from the petrous portion are extremely rare, and most cases are asymptomatic or cause a mass effect leading to palsy of the adjacent cranial nerves. In rupture cases, massive nasal and ear bleeding occurs, which may cause death. We describe a 73-year-old man with a giant ICA aneurysm arising from the petrous portion and presenting as epistaxis. Read More

Angiol Sosud Khir 2018;24(3):169-175

Department of Vascular Surgery, Municipal Multimodality Hospital No2, Saint Petersburg, Russia.

Described herein is a clinical case report concerning treatment of a 32-year-old female patient with rupture of an aneurysm of the arch and descending portion of the thoracic aorta, with the bleeding having penetrated the upper lobe of the left lung. The woman was admitted to the Department of Vascular Surgery of Municipal Multimodality Hospital No 2 of Saint Petersburg, presenting with a clinical pattern of aneurysmal rupture previously diagnosed by computed tomography performed at one of the local hospitals. Studying her case history revealed that, when a child, she had endured an operation for a defect of the interventricular septum and aortic coarctation with aortoplasty using a Dacron synthetic patch. Read More