Giant cell arteritis

Renatta Varma and Anil Patel recently discussed herpes zoster (varicella zoster virus) infection as a differential diagnosis of GCA.1 Interestingly, 88% of arteries with histologically confirmed GCA have been found to harbour herpes simplex virus DNA.2 Consideration of both herpes zoster and herpes simplex as a cause in this case of necrotic scalp lesions may therefore be warranted.