Vol.22 No.6

Case Report

A concomitant case of giant cell arteritis and microscopic polyangiitis with hemoperitoneum by rupture of the gastroepiploic artery

Authors

Kenji Fujii1 , Tomomi Tsutsumi1 , Kensuke Takaoka1 , Yasuhiro Osugi1 , Satoshi Ando1 , Yoshinobu Koyama1

  • Center for Rheumatic Disease, Iizuka Hospital, 83-3 Yoshio-machi, Iizuka, Fukuoka, 820-8505, Japan
Received:

9 November 2011

Accepted:

1 February 2012

Published online:

22 February 2012

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Abstract

Giant cell arteritis (GCA) mainly involves large-sized arteries, while microscopic polyangiitis (mPA), characterized by pauci-immune necrotizing vasculitis, mainly affects small-sized vessels. We report a very rare concomitant case of GCA diagnosed by temporal artery biopsy and mPA with a high titer of myeloperoxidase antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody, exacerbation of interstitial pneumonia, and suspected rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis. The patient died by sudden rupture of the gastroepiploic artery (medium-sized vessel), which may have been triggered by GCA and/or mPA.

Key words

ANCA - Giant cell arteritis - Hemoperitoneum - Microscopic polyangiitis - Temporal artery biopsy