A Rare Association of Giant Cell Arteritis with Recurrent Corneal Ulcer
2016
We report a rare case of association of temporal arteritis with recurrent central corneal ulcer. A
91-year-old male with a remote history of clinically diagnosed giant cell arteritis (GCA) and penetrating
keratoplasty (PK) for corneal edema in 1990’s in the left eye presented with irritation and
severe dry eye. He progressively developed central corneal ulcer regardless of treatment with aggressive
lubrication and patching. The clinical course, blood tests and temporal artery biopsy results
yielded the diagnosis of recurrent GCA. The clinical course improved after starting oral steroids.
The case report illustrates the importance of ruling out GCA in patients with recurrent corneal
ulcers and history of GCA. It also highlights the significance of shared understanding between
primary care physicians and specialists to handle common and chronic diseases to make efficient
diagnoses and plan treatment regimens. This is the first plausible case of reported GCA association
with central corneal ulcer in the United States.
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