Location
Moultrie, GA
Start Date
17-4-2026 12:00 PM
End Date
17-4-2026 1:00 PM
Description
Acute monocular vision loss is a medical emergency that requires prompt work-up to identify the cause. The etiologies of vision loss are broad including vascular, inflammatory, thromboembolic, and neural pathologies. Here we present the curious case of a 57-year-old male with a history of HTN, CAD, prior CVA and T2DM who was admitted to the medicine floor for a recurrent transient vision loss in his right eye for the past 18-months. Based on the patients PMH, an immediate differential diagnosis included: Central Retinal Artery Occlusion, Giant Cell Arteritis, Amaurosis Fugax secondary to carotid embolism, and Optic Neuropathy secondary to Diabetic Neuropathy. Laboratory studies revealed elevated CRP levels of 26 (reference < 8 mg/L) raising concerns for potential Giant Cell Arteritis and was immediately placed on high-dose IV methylprednisolone. Further evaluation included a bilateral temporal artery biopsy that was ultimately negative on the pathology report, showing no evidence of vasculitis. Considering the significant past medical history of cardiovascular disease, including self-reports from the patient revealed chronically uncontrolled HTN, with diastolic values often reaching over 110 mmHG, thromboembolic etiologies also required evaluation. This case highlights the importance of investigating the broad etiologies of acute monocular vision loss and in our case how retinal artery occlusion may mimic giant cell arteritis in the setting of elevated inflammatory markers.
Embargo Period
5-27-2026
Included in
Retinal Artery Occlusion Mimicking Giant Cell Arteritis: A Case Report
Moultrie, GA
Acute monocular vision loss is a medical emergency that requires prompt work-up to identify the cause. The etiologies of vision loss are broad including vascular, inflammatory, thromboembolic, and neural pathologies. Here we present the curious case of a 57-year-old male with a history of HTN, CAD, prior CVA and T2DM who was admitted to the medicine floor for a recurrent transient vision loss in his right eye for the past 18-months. Based on the patients PMH, an immediate differential diagnosis included: Central Retinal Artery Occlusion, Giant Cell Arteritis, Amaurosis Fugax secondary to carotid embolism, and Optic Neuropathy secondary to Diabetic Neuropathy. Laboratory studies revealed elevated CRP levels of 26 (reference < 8 mg/L) raising concerns for potential Giant Cell Arteritis and was immediately placed on high-dose IV methylprednisolone. Further evaluation included a bilateral temporal artery biopsy that was ultimately negative on the pathology report, showing no evidence of vasculitis. Considering the significant past medical history of cardiovascular disease, including self-reports from the patient revealed chronically uncontrolled HTN, with diastolic values often reaching over 110 mmHG, thromboembolic etiologies also required evaluation. This case highlights the importance of investigating the broad etiologies of acute monocular vision loss and in our case how retinal artery occlusion may mimic giant cell arteritis in the setting of elevated inflammatory markers.