Giant Cell Arteritis Causing Retinal and Posterior Carotid Circulation Strokes

Introduction

Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is an inflammatory vasculitis that affects medium-sized and large arteries. Thromboembolic manifestations of the granulomatous vasculitides such as GCA are uncommon [1]. Emboli have been found in post-mortem brain stem examinations in GCA patients [2]. This report describes a brain stem cerebral vascular accident followed by thromboembolic central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) and anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy (AION) in a patient with biopsy negative GCA.

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