Page 33 - MRS Abstracts March 2023

GCA related stroke – Cases presentation
Rehab Mohammed, Rheumatology ST5,Haywood Hospital , Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
Author 2: Phil Ferdinand, Stroke Consultant, University Hospitals of North Midlands Author 3: Ajit Menon, Consultant rheumatologist, Haywood Hospital , Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
Introduction:
Stroke resulting from Giant Cell Arteritis (GCA) is a rare condition, with an incidence of 3-7%, and few documented cases in the literature.
Methods:
We present a series of three case studies presenting as GCA-associated strokes at a rheumatology centre in Staffordshire from 2019 to 2022.
Cases Presentation:
The common demographic factor was an age threshold of 75 years, with a predominance of females in two cases. Two patients with confirmed ultrasound-diagnosed GCA presented with visual symptoms, including blurred vision and homonymous hemianopia, followed by unilateral paralysis and unsteady gait. The third patient, diagnosed with Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) three weeks prior, she did not have a temporal artery ultrasound and was treated as presumed GCA complicated by stroke.
Elevated CRP and ESR were observed in all cases at the time of stroke presentation. CT angiograms showed multilevel stenosis of the vertebral artery and vasculitis features. PET CT in a subset showed increased vertebral artery uptake in one participant.