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

    Shoulder pain

    or Difficulty moving shoulder

    or Difficulty moving neck

    or Back neck pain

    or Muscle pain

    or Difficulty moving hip

    or Joint pain

    • At hip

    common

    Fatigue

    Transient visual loss

    or Blurred vision

    Blindness

    • Painless

    • 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

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