A 76-year-old woman comes to the physician because of a left-sided headaches and pain in the jaw while chewing over the past 2 months. . She has been having great difficulty getting out of bed in the morning. She has had a 4-kg (9-lb) weight loss and has not been sleeping well during this period. Her temperature is 38.0°C (100.4°F), pulse is 101/min, and blood pressure is 128/88 mm Hg. . Appropriate therapy is immediately started, and an arterial biopsy is performed. Histopathology shows multinuclear giant cells and internal elastic membrane fragmentation. Prompt institution of therapy in this patient most likely reduces the risk of which of the following complications?

Question

A 76-year-old woman comes to the physician because of a left-sided headaches and pain in the jaw while chewing over the past 2 months. . She has been having great difficulty getting out of bed in the morning. She has had a 4-kg (9-lb) weight loss and has not been sleeping well during this period. Her temperature is 38.0°C (100.4°F), pulse is 101/min, and blood pressure is 128/88 mm Hg. .  Appropriate therapy is immediately started, and an arterial biopsy is performed.  Histopathology shows multinuclear giant cells and internal elastic membrane fragmentation.  Prompt institution of therapy in this patient most likely reduces the risk of which of the following complications?

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Eductional Objective: Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is characterized by granulomatous inflammation of the media with fragmentation of the internal elastic lamina most often affecting the medium and small branches of the carotid artery.  Ischemic optic neuropathy with irreversible blindness is a potential complication of GCA; therefore, patients with suspected GCA require immediate glucocorticoid therapy.

A 76-Year-Old Woman Comes to the Physician Because of a Left-Sided