Horner's Syndrome as the Presenting Symptom in Giant Cell Arteritis

An etiology for isolated Horner's syndrome is found in approximately 60% of patients and rarely associated with Giant Cell Arteritis (GCA). In five previously reported cases, each had associated constitutional symptoms, other neurological signs and/or elevated inflammatory markers. We examined a 73 year old woman free of constitutional symptoms other than mild temporal headaches who developed Horner's syndrome without other neurological symptoms and normal inflammatory markers. Bilateral ischemic optic neuropathies subsequently developed despite steroid treatment.