Giant cell arteritis associated with rheumatoid arthritis monitored by magnetic resonance angiography

A 57-year-old Japanese woman with well controlled rheumatoid arthritis visi ted our hospital with a severe bitemporal headache and marked fatigue. Base d on the classification criteria by the American College of Rheumatology, s he was diagnosed as having giant cell arteritis. Magnetic resonance (MR) an giography was performed, from which stenotic changes in the bilateral super ficial temporal arteries were strongly suspected. Corticosteroid therapy wa s quickly started, The patient followed an uneventful course with no compli cations. Therapeutic effect was confirmed by MR angiographic findings obtai ned 4 weeks after the initiation of therapy.