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.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Didion H: Uber einen fall von isolierter produktiver riesenzell myokarditis. Virchows Arch Pathol Anat 310:85–99, 1943
Klijn LC, Boomgaard J: Polymyalgia rheumatica. Ned T Geneesk 107:483–489, 1963
Terwindt VAM, Knoben JAMA: Polymyalgia rheumatica, arteritis and hepatic damage. Acta Med Scand 179:307–318, 1966
Wadman B, Werner I: Observations on temporal arteritis. Acta Med Scand 192:377–383, 1972
Hall GH, Hargreaves T: Giant-cell arteritis and raised serum alkaline phosphatase levels. Lancet 2:48–48, 1972
Dickson ER, Maldonado JE, Sheps SG, Cain JA: Systemic giant cell arteritis with polymyalgia rheumatica. JAMA 244:1496–1498, 1973
Mann DC, Toole JF: Cranial arteritis with liver involvement. Stroke 3:131–134, 1972
Liang GC, Simkin PA, Mannik M: Immunoglobulins in temporal arteries and immunofluorescence study. Ann Intern Med 81:19–24, 1974
Mannik M, Gilliland GC: Giant cell arteritis. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 7th ed. MM Wintrobe (ed). New York, McGraw-Hill, 1974, pp 394–395
Hamilton CR, Shelley WM, Tumulty PA: Giant cell arteritis; including temporal arteritis and polymyalgia rheumatica. Medicine 50:1–27, 1971
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
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
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01072493