Giant cell arteritis can be associated with T4-lymphocytic alveolitis

We describe three patients with histologically proven giant cell arteritis who presented with respiratory complaints. In one patient, dry cough and dyspnoea dominated the clinical picture. In the other two patients, a diagnosis of giant cell arteritis was readily suspected by the presence of typical...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Clinical rheumatology 1999-01, Vol.18 (4), p.330-333
Main Authors: Blockmans, D, Knockaert, D, Bobbaers, H
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aged
AIDS/HIV
Biopsy
Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid - cytology
CD4 Lymphocyte Count
CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes - pathology
Diagnosis, Differential
Female
Giant Cell Arteritis - complications
Giant Cell Arteritis - diagnostic imaging
Giant Cell Arteritis - pathology
Humans
Lung Diseases, Interstitial - diagnostic imaging
Lung Diseases, Interstitial - etiology
Lung Diseases, Interstitial - pathology
Male
Middle Aged
Pulmonary Alveoli - diagnostic imaging
Pulmonary Alveoli - pathology
Radiography, Thoracic
Tomography, X-Ray Computed
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Summary:We describe three patients with histologically proven giant cell arteritis who presented with respiratory complaints. In one patient, dry cough and dyspnoea dominated the clinical picture. In the other two patients, a diagnosis of giant cell arteritis was readily suspected by the presence of typical complaints, although both patients spontaneously mentioned a persistent cough and dyspnoea, respectively. Radiographs of the chest were normal. Lung function tests, including a carbon monoxide (CO)-diffusion capacity measurement, were always normal. Broncho-alveolar lavage fluid examination showed a normal cell count but an increased number of lymphocytes (16-61%) with a predominance of T4-lymphocytes (65.5-84.5%). We conclude that respiratory complaints and T4-lymphocytic alveolitis can be associated with giant cell arteritis.
ISSN:0770-3198
1434-9949
DOI:10.1007/s100670050111