Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is reported world-wide. However, the incidence varies greatly in different geographic regions with the highest incidence rates from Scandinavian countries and North American populations of the same descent. The etiopathogenesis of GCA is incompletely understood. Although data on a positive correlation between the occurrence of infection and the onset of GCA as well as...

We read with great interest the original article “Rapid induction of remission in large vessel vasculitis by IL-6 blockade” by Dr. Seitz et al. [1]. One of us (F.J.F-F) is very interested in the treatment of giant-cell arteritis because his mother was diagnosed with giant-cell arteritis 5 months previously. She had polymyalgia rheumatic for several months, and headache was the main manifestatio...

Aortic complications of giant cell arteritis are a rare cause of abdominal aortic aneurysm. Here, we describe a case of a ruptured aortic aneurysm in a patient with giant call arteritis (GCA) who was preoperatively suspected of having an infectious aortic aneurysm. Intraoperative inspection revealed infectious granulation tissue on the anterior wall of the abdominal aorta. GCA was finally confi...