Giant Cell Arteritis

Giant cell arteritis is an inflammation of the lining of the

arteries

. Most often, it affects the arteries in the head, especially those in the temples. For this reason, giant cell arteritis is sometimes called temporal arteritis.
If left untreated it can be very serious and cause strokes or blindness.
Symptoms

Headache

  • Rapidly developing

  • In the temporal region

  • Frontal region, Coming from the back of head, On one side of the head

  • Steady

or Sensitive scalp

common

Weight loss

or Poor appetite

common

Jaw pain

common

Fever

  • Less than 38°C (100.4°F)

common

Difficulty moving shoulder

or Difficulty moving neck

or Back neck pain

or Muscle pain

or Difficulty moving hip

or Joint pain

common

Fatigue

Transient visual loss

or Blurred vision

Blindness

  • Rapidly developing

Pain, scratchiness or irritation of the throat

or Cough with mucus or without mucus

  • Dry

or Strained voice

Swallowing difficulties

Risk factors

Polymyalgia Rheumatica

Treatment
The main treatment for giant cell arteritis consists of high doses of a corticosteroid drug such as prednisone. Because immediate treatment is necessary to prevent vision loss, your doctor is likely to start medication even before confirming the diagnosis with a biopsy.
Recommended specialist

If you have Giant Cell Arteritis, then a visit to a rheumatologist is recommended.

Contact a

Rheumatologist

Support

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