Giant cell arteritis can be associated with T4-lymphocytic alveolitis

We describe three patients with histologically proven giant cell arteritis who presented with respiratory complaints. In one patient, dry cough and dy spnoea dominated the clinical picture. In the other two patients, a diagnos is of giant cell arteritis was readily suspected by the presence of typical complaints, although both patients spontaneously mentioned a persistent co ugh and dyspnoea, respectively. Radiographs of the chest were normal. Lung function tests, including a carbon monoxide (CO)-diffusion capacity measure ment, were always normal. Broncho-alveolar lavage fluid examination showed a normal cell count but an increased number of lymphocytes (16-61%) with a predominance of T4-lymphocytes (65.5-84.5 %). We conclude that respiratory complaints and T4-1ymphocytic alveolitis can be associated with giant cell arteritis.