TEMPORAL ARTERITIS - ETIOLOGY AND TREATME NT

A questionnaire survey covered 11 females with temporal arteritis (CA) acid 20 healthy controls. Gastrointestinal, joint and spinal complain ts were significantly more frequent in CA patients. Clinical character istics of joint and spinal disorders in CA patients are close to those of chronic reactive arthritis. It is suggested that Horton's disease may be lacking as a stage of the infectious process in elderly patient s (chronic intestinal and/or urinary infection-reactive arthritis-CA). A case is reported where CA developed after intestinal and urinary in fection. Administration of antibiotics for treatment of the recurrence induced a continuous remission under reduced doses of glucocorticoids . In another case biseptol + glucocorticoids brought about a persisten t remission allowing glucocorticoid discontinuation.