[Third nerve palsy as the only manifestation of occult temporal arteritis].

Source: PubMed, NCBI / U.S. National Library of Medicine

Two patients (80 and 67 year-old) presented with diplopia for a sudden right 3rd cranial nerve palsy without other ocular or systemic symptoms related to temporal arteritis. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein levels were normal. Subsequent biopsy of the superficial temporal artery confirmed the diagnosis of temporal arteritis. Patients with ocular nerve palsy could have occult temporal arteritis. Aged patients with an acute ocular ischemic lesion, without elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein levels and systemic symptoms, should raise a high index of suspicion for temporal arteritis.