[Giant-cell arteritis: the clinico-biological manifestations and the complications secondary to steroid treatment].

The analysed clinico-biological manifestations, evolutive course and treatment of 30 patients with GCA are presented. The most frequent symptoms were fever and headache. 33% of patients had FOD criteria. 26% had various visual alterations. All patients were initially treated with steroids. Of the 26 patients followed up, 21 (81.7%) experienced some sort of complication: Cushing iatrogenic, osteoporosis, vertebrae collapse, aseptic necrosis of the femur head, arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, steroid myopathy. 6 patients were treated with cyclophosphamide, following severe complications secondary to steroid therapy, and all of them had a good clinical evolution.