Page 34 - MRS Abstracts March 2023

Therapeutic Intervention:
All patients received high-dose steroids .Two patients, who presented with visual symptoms, were given IV Methylprednisolone followed by oral steroids.
Conclusion:
Elderly stroke patients with constitutional symptoms and elevated inflammatory markers should prompt consideration of GCA, as early steroid therapy may enhance prognosis.
Temporal artery ultrasound is recommended in suspected GCA-associated strokes due to its sensitivity, cost-effectiveness, and non-invasiveness.
The role of antiplatelet and statin therapy in preventing GCA-related stroke is debatable.
Risk factors for GCA-related stroke include smoking, hypertension, visual involvement, and high haemoglobin levels.
Key points:
Diagnosing GCA-related stroke requires a high clinical suspicion.
• Hypertension and smoking are predisposing risk factors for GCA-related stroke.
• CT Angiogram aids in diagnosing GCA-related stroke, demonstrating vertebral artery stenosis and vasculitis features.
• It is crucial to consider brain CT angiography in stroke patients with raised inflammatory markers.
• Timely steroid intervention in GCA-related stroke can improve overall prognosis. References:
Bajko,Z.,Balasa,R.,Maier,S.,Motataianu,A.,Barcutean,L.,Andone,S.,Stoian,A.,Filep,R.C.(2021).Stroke secondary to giant-cell-arteritis: A literature review. Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine, 22(2), 876.
Doi:10.3892/etm.2021.10308
Kuganesan,T.& Huang,A.R.(2018).Stroke as an atypical initial presentation of giant cell arteritis .BMC Geriatrics,18(1),55.doi: 10.1186/s12877-018-0738-y.