Ocular complications of giant cell arteritis

Permanent visual loss (PVL) is the most dreaded complication of giant cell arteritis (GCA). It results from anterior ischemic optic neuropathy or, less commonly, retinal artery occlusion. This complication still occurs in 14 to 20% of patients and is typically devastating and permanent, although it is highly preventable by an early diagnosis of giant cell arteritis and appropriate glucocorticoid treatment. Transient ischemic symptoms such as amaurosis fugax, episodes of blurred vision or diplopia may occur, either heralding visual loss or remaining isolated. In studies, the main predictors of PVL are jaw claudication, amaurosis fugax, lack of systemic "B" symptoms, a modestly increased ESR and a higher haemoglobin level. The evaluation of a GCA patient with PVL includes emergency fundoscopy completed by fluorescein angiography, immediate erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, and complete blood count. Treatment is extremely urgent mainly because, if left untreated, GCA is associated with visual loss in the fellow eye within days in up to 50% of individuals. Treatment may begin with high-dose intravenous methylprednisolone, followed by oral prednisone administered at 1 mg/kg per day. Daily adjunctive aspirin orally may be added since it has been shown, in retrospective studies, to protect against stroke and visual loss. Although treatment duration of complicated GCA is not codified, an initial PVL deserves close monitoring of patient's systemic symptoms, ESR and CRP to avoid relapses due to a significant risk of late recurrence of visual loss during steroid tapering.