BILATERAL PERCUTANEOUS BALLOON ANGIOPLASTY OF THE AXILLARY ARTERIES IN A PATIENT WITH GIANT-CELL ARTERITIS AND UPPER EXTREMITY ISCHEMIC SYMPTOMS NOT RESPONSIVE TO CORTICOSTEROIDS

Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is well known to present with protean manif estations. We describe a 68-year-old woman with persistent upper extre mity ischemic symptoms despite adequate treatment for GCA. She underwe nt successful balloon angioplasty of bilateral axillary artery stenosi s. To our knowledge this is the first case utilizing this technique in GCA. Our case highlights the rare but important circumstances under w hich interventional techniques both surgical and nonsurgical need to b e considered in cases of GCA with arterial occlusion not responsive to corticosteroid therapy.