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What Do Blood Clots In Upper And Lower Lobes When Suffering From Temporal Arteritis Indicate?
Question: I was diagnosed with temporal arteritis, or Giant cell Arteritis(last Sept 29th. I was started on 60 mgm of prednisone, for one month, and as my s.r. Came down my prednisone dose came down, 10mgm per month. I am now on prednisone 9 mgm . In the last two weeks My Dr. Ordered a stress test. I was moved to the e.r. After a cat scan revealed blood clots in upper and lower lobes of both lungs. I am now on Coumadin 4 mgm, after 24 hr hospitalization, and a round of Lovanox. Is this complication due to the artiritis? Or should I investigate another cause.? I am 80 yrs old , and other than a hysterectomy (1989) and shoulder repair, do not have a health issue. I am physically active, and in good health
Brief Answer:
Vasculitis (Giant cell arteritis) likely
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for asking
I read your question and i understand your concern. Giant cell or temporal arteritis is the reasonable cause of this blood clots in lungs. Prednisone should be tapered slowly. So you are doing the right thing.
As far as coumarins are concerned these are wise choice but you need to keep an eye over the bleeding profile to specially PT APTT INR and maintain INR between 2 and 3. I also give my patients some fondaparinux or rivaroxaban at start as coumadin are procoagulants for a few days at start. But i am sure your doctor has taken care of that.
Old age and history of joint pain and likely sedentary lifestyle might have played a role as a factor but this is likely vasculitis responsible for all the symptoms.
I hope it helps. take good care of yourself and dont forget to close the discussion please.
Regards
Khan
Vasculitis (Giant cell arteritis) likely
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for asking
I read your question and i understand your concern. Giant cell or temporal arteritis is the reasonable cause of this blood clots in lungs. Prednisone should be tapered slowly. So you are doing the right thing.
As far as coumarins are concerned these are wise choice but you need to keep an eye over the bleeding profile to specially PT APTT INR and maintain INR between 2 and 3. I also give my patients some fondaparinux or rivaroxaban at start as coumadin are procoagulants for a few days at start. But i am sure your doctor has taken care of that.
Old age and history of joint pain and likely sedentary lifestyle might have played a role as a factor but this is likely vasculitis responsible for all the symptoms.
I hope it helps. take good care of yourself and dont forget to close the discussion please.
Regards
Khan
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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