Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is a systemic vasculitis that can cause permanent vision loss. Even after treatment, relapses have been reported in 40%–64% of patients, depending on how relapses are defined.1,2 Here, we present a rare case of a GCA relapse mimicking idiopathic orbital inflammation (IOI) on the side contralateral to the initial episode of the disease. Simultaneous, positive biopsies of the orbit and temporal arteries were obtained, offering histological evidence that the orbital inflammation and GCA flare were linked.
Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is a systemic vasculitis that can cause permanent vision loss. Even after treatment, relapses have been reported in 40%–64% of patients, depending on how relapses are defined.1,2 Here, we present a rare case of a GCA relapse mimicking idiopathic orbital inflammation (IOI) on the side contralateral to the initial episode of the disease. Simultaneous, positive biopsies of the orbit and temporal arteries were obtained, offering histological evidence that the orbital inflammation and GCA flare were linked.