Femoral-popliteal bypass with femoral artery biopsy concluding giant cell arteritis

Abstract

Giant cell arteritis is a systemic, inflammatory vasculitis that affects small to medium-sized arteries.1 A 60-year-old Hispanic female presented to a vascular surgeon with a referral from her rheumatologist. The patient had a femoral biopsy from her recent femoral-popliteal bypass requested by her rheumatologist. The patient had constant claudication from her upper and lower extremities, which resulted from the femoral-popliteal bypass. This case demonstrates a nonclassical presentation of giant cell arteritis. The continuous claudications in both her upper and lower extremities presented in a clinical setting were related to peripheral artery disease that would have been secondary to smoking. If left undiagnosed and untreated, the patient could have ended eye blindness from compression to the temporal artery. Continuous follow-up care with her rheumatologist can lead to better long-term outcomes for her giant cell arteritis. This case study presents the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment the patient received for her giant cell arteritis.