Angioplasty and stent placement for complete occlusion of the vertebral artery secondary to giant cell arteritis.

Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is the most common form of systemic vasculitis in adults. Patients usually present with headache and visual symptoms, and have an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate. It has been reported that 3-4% of patients with GCA develop ischemic events secondary to vertebral artery stenosis or occlusion.