Background: Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is an immunologic disorder affecting large and medium size vessels, especially focusing on the external branches of the aorta. The most commonly affected vessel is the temporal artery, and it usually presents with headache in elderly patients. The participation of other vessels, such as the aorta, can result in serious, life-threatening complications. Case presentation: We present the case of a patient admitted to our hospital, diagnosed with GCA and pericardial effusion, which is a rare combination, with only a few case reports in the literature. Conclusion: Pericardial effusion in the context of GCA is rare but it can be dangerous, and by presenting such a case, we want to underline the importance of checking for extracranial involvement when GCA is suspected.

Keywords: Case report, giant cell arteritis, temporal arteritis, pericarditis, pericardial effusion; heart