Temporal artery biopsy in the management of giant cell arteritis with neuro-ophthalmic complications

Giant cell arteritis (GCA) with neuroophthalmic complications requires trea tment with systemic steroids, initially in high dose and continued at a gra dually reducing dose for at least 6 months and usually for 1 year or longer .(1) There is a high risk of complications from the steroid therapy and thu s the diagnosis of GCA needs to be as certain as possible. Histopathologica l evidence, usually by temporal 2 artery biopsy, is the definitive investig ation. However, patients are still being treated with systemic steroids wit hout a biopsy being performed. Three actual cases are presented and discussed to illustrate the role of te mporal artery biopsy in the management of possible GCA with neuro-ophthalmi c complications.