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Pleural effusion as a presenting manifestation of giant cell arteritis

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Summary

Pulmonary involvement is rare in giant cell arteritis (GCA). Only a few cases have been reported, manifested by interstitial infiltration, pulmonary nodules, pulmonary artery vasculitis, and granuloma formation. Moreover, only 3 previous cases of pleural effusion associated with GCA have been described. Herein we report a 67-year-old woman with biopsy-proven temporal arteritis, presented with prolonged fever, weight loss, cough and pleural effusion. ELISA test for the presence of anti- proteinase-3 antibodies was negative. The importance of the anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic-antibodies (ANCA) examination in the differential diagnosis from other vasculitides with pulmonary involvement is discussed.

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Gur, H., Ehrenfeld, M. & Izsak, E. Pleural effusion as a presenting manifestation of giant cell arteritis. Clin Rheumatol 15, 200–203 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02230342

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