Under appreciated vascular complications of giant cell arteritis

Thoracic and abdominal aortic aneurysm, aortic dissection and limb artery stenosis are not uncommon. Such complications can present during the active treatment phase or years later. According to this review (Current Opinion in Rheumatology) 1 in 5 patients with GCA will develop an aortic aneurysm and 1 in 16 will dissect. A strategy for screening and surveillance is presented.