4th November 2021

A 64-year-old woman presented to A+E with blurred vision and a severe unilateral headache affecting her left temple

A 64-year-old woman presented to A+E with blurred vision and a severe unilateral headache affecting her left temple. This was the first time such symptoms have manifested. PMH is insignificant, although the patient had complained of shoulder and pelvic girdle weakness. The doctor suspected giant cell arteritis and started the patient on high dose steroids. One year later, the same patient presented with a sharp sudden pain in the upper back that radiated downwards. This was associated with shortness of breath and pain in the neck and shoulders. What complication can occur in the non-acute period following an attack of temporal arteritis?

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