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Liver involvement in giant cell arteritis

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Summary

A patient with biopsy-proven temporal arteritis with striking liver “function” test abnormalities is reported. A liver biopsy revealed cholestasis and nonspecific granuloma formation. The patient's elevated alkaline phosphatase, SGOT, and SGPT rapidly normalized with prednisone therapy. An additional 22 patients with biopsy-proven temporal arteritis were reviewed, disclosing that 14 of 21 (67%) had alkaline phosphatase elevation and that 8 of 21 (37%) had an elevated SGOT. The association of temporal arteritis and liver disease is not well known, and the presence of liver function test aberrations may postpone the correct diagnosis as happened in this case. We conclude that abnormal liver “function” tests, particularly alkaline phosphatase elevation, is common in temporal arteritis and reflects a systemic process with liver cell injury and cholestasis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Scripps Clinic and Research Foundation, 476 Prospect Street, 92037, La Jolla, California

    L. R. McCormack MD, R. W. Astarita MD &  P. Foroozan MD

Authors
  1. L. R. McCormack MD
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  2. R. W. Astarita MD
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  3. P. Foroozan MD
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McCormack, L.R., Astarita, R.W. & Foroozan, P. Liver involvement in giant cell arteritis. Digest Dis Sci 23, S72–S74 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01072493

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01072493

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