Giant cell inflammation compared with amyloidosis of the internal elastic lamina in temporal arteries

Abstract

Close examination of a series of temporal artery biopsy specimens provided histologic and statistical evidence that any association between the occurrence of giant cell arteritis and senile amyloidosis of the temporal artery internal elastic lamina is not direct, but is associated incidentally with old age. Substantial demographic differences between the 2 conditions were found; the prevalence of giant cell arteritis first waxed and then waned with increasing age, while rates for senile amyloidosis of the temporal artery progressed steadily toward 100% in the ninth decade of life.