RESPIRATORY INVOLVEMENT IN TEMPORAL ARTER ITIS

Several respiratory manifestations have been described in patients wit h temporal arteritis. These complications may develop at the onset of the disease or later. Cough is the most frequent of them. Other compli cations include pleural effusions, interstitial pneumonitis, pulmonary vasculitis. Hyperreactive airways, hoarseness, diaphragm paralysis ha ve been noted. Generally, corticosteroids cause a prompt improvement. Physicians should be aware of respiratory symptoms in patients with te mporal arteritis in order to avoid delays in diagnosis and therapy.