Temporal Arteritis and Renal Failure

Renal Failure in Temporal Arteritis

“…Some recent long series do not mention it [1][2][3]. Others report normal renal function with occasional hematuria, red cell casts and minimal proteinuria [7,11], Two cases of nephrotic syndrome, one by membranous glomerulonephritis, have been reported [5,12], There is a case of acute renal failure and complete recovery after steroid therapy, but no histopathological study was made [13].…”

Lymphocyte proliferation to artery antigen as a positive diagnostic test in polymyalgia rheumatica.

“…They involve mainly the intima and internal elastic lamina and differ only in degree from those encountered in temporal arteritis, but there is never an inflammatory cell infiltrate unless in relation to large atheromatous plaques. Attempts to investigate the immunological properties of elastin in this disease have been made (Balmforth, 1964), but there were difficulties in obtaining a satisfactory antigen. Although there is a high incidence of involvement of the head and neck vessels in temporal arteritis, the intracranial arteries are seldom involved (Heptinstall, Porter and Barkley, 1954;Crompton, 1959;Kjeldsen and Reske-Nielsen, 1968).…”

Giant cell arteritis presenting as renal vasculitis

“…Typical findings are giant cell infiltration and a necrotising small vessel arteritis.8 There are only nine reported cases in the literature of temporal arteritis with glomerular and/or intrarenal vasculitis associated with significantly impaired renal function.4 Three patients had focal glomerulonephritis, with or without necrotising features and crescents, one patient had 'lupus' nephritis, and one patient, who died of renal failure, had giant cell arteritis without an associated glomerular lesion, as seen in our patient. In four cases either renal lesions were not documented by biopsy or the published illustrations are not adequate for accurate interpretation.2 9 …”