A case of pulmonary asbestosis presenting with temporal arteritis involving multiple medium-sized vessels

Mod Rheumatol. 2008;18(1):100-4. doi: 10.1007/s10165-007-0016-x. Epub 2007 Dec 26.

Abstract

A 76-year-old woman with pulmonary asbestosis was admitted with fever and polymyalgia. She subsequently developed a visual disorder, hemoptysis, and hemoperitoneum. A biopsy of the temporal artery revealed the presence of giant-cell arteritis. CT and angiography showed hemorrhaging from the bronchial and abdominal arteries. These observations suggested temporal arteritis in which medium-sized vessels were involved. This case implies the association between vasculitis and asbestosis, and suggests a problem in the classification of vasculitides.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Asbestosis / complications*
  • Asbestosis / pathology*
  • Female
  • Giant Cell Arteritis / complications*
  • Giant Cell Arteritis / pathology*
  • Hemoperitoneum / etiology
  • Hemoptysis / etiology
  • Humans