Overlapping Symptoms of COVID-19 and Giant Cell Arteritis: The Need for a Higher Degree of Suspicion for Diagnostic Differentiation.

Publication/Presentation Date

6-1-2022

Abstract

Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is a large cell vasculitis that can present with a plethora of symptoms affecting several different systems. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, diagnosis of GCA was straightforward since the list of differential diagnoses for this disease was relatively short. However, the development of a SARS-CoV-2 viral infection challenges this standard. COVID-19 is a viral illness that also can present with similar vascular symptoms as GCS and creates a substantial inflammatory reaction, similar to most vasculitis. We present a case of a patient who had developed GCA after recovering from a COVID-19 viral illness. This is a rare presentation of GCA in the setting of COVID-19, and recognition of the nuanced differences between the two diseases may significantly change a patient's prognosis if not detected early.

Volume

14

Issue

6

First Page

25660

Last Page

25660

ISSN

2168-8184

Disciplines

Medicine and Health Sciences

PubMedID

35800189

Department(s)

Department of Medicine

Document Type

Article

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