Bilateral lower limb gangrene and stroke as initial manifestations of systemic giant cell arteritis in an African-American.

Abstract

Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is a systemic disease of the elderly that occurs infrequently in blacks and seldom has peripheral vascular disease and stroke as its presenting major complications. The occurrence of bilateral lower limb gangrene and a fatal stroke as manifestations of occult systemic GCA in an African-American is such a unique combination of rare occurrences that it warrants documentation in the literature.