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The cause is unknown.
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Typically, people have a severe and often throbbing headache, pain in the scalp when they brush their hair, and pain in facial muscles when they chew.
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Without treatment, blindness can result.
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Symptoms and results of a physical examination suggest the diagnosis, but biopsy of the temporal artery is done to confirm it.
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Prednisone (a corticosteroid), tocilizumab, and aspirin are usually effective treatments.
(See also Overview of Vasculitis.)
Giant cell arteritis is a relatively common form of vasculitis in the United States and Europe. Women are affected more often than men. Giant cell arteritis typically affects people over age 55, often at about age 70. About 40 to 60% of people with giant cell arteritis also have symptoms of polymyalgia rheumatica. The cause of these disorders is unknown.
Symptoms
Symptoms of giant cell arteritis may begin gradually over several weeks or abruptly. People may have fever and feel tired and generally unwell. They may lose weight unintentionally and sweat more than usual. Symptoms vary, depending on which arteries are affected.
Headache and scalp pain
Typically, the large arteries to the head are affected, causing a severe, sometimes throbbing headache at the temples or back of the head to develop for the first time. Arteries in the temple may be tender to the touch and feel swollen and bumpy. The scalp may feel painful when touched or when the hair is brushed.
Blindness and visual disturbances
Double or blurred vision, large blind spots, sudden blindness in one eye that resolves within a few minutes, or other eye problems may develop. The greatest danger is permanent blindness, which can occur suddenly if the blood supply to the optic nerve is blocked. Complete blindness in both eyes is uncommon if people are treated as soon as the diagnosis is suspected but can occur without treatment. Over the past 50 years, the number of visual disturbances has gone down while recovery rates have gone up, most likely because giant cell arteritis is diagnosed earlier and treated before the eyes are affected.
Jaw and tongue pain
Neurologic and cardiovascular problems
Polymyalgia rheumatica
Diagnosis
Doctors suspect the diagnosis of giant cell arteritis based on symptoms and results of a physical examination. Doctors feel the temples to see whether the temporal arteries feel hard, bumpy, or tender.
Blood tests are done. Results can support the diagnosis. For example, anemia, a very high erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and a high level of C-reactive protein indicate inflammation.
A biopsy of the temporal artery (in the temple) is done to confirm the diagnosis (see Figure: Biopsy of the Temporal Artery).
The diagnosis is also more likely if the patient also has symptoms of polymyalgia rheumatica.
If giant cell arteritis is suspected in very large arteries, such as the aorta and its major branches, magnetic resonance angiography may be done to confirm the diagnosis.
Biopsy of the Temporal Artery
Treatment
With treatment, most people with giant cell arteritis recover fully, but the disorder may return.
Treatment of giant cell arteritis is started as soon as the disorder is suspected because, without treatment, blindness can develop. Treatment is usually started even before a biopsy is done. Treatment does not affect the biopsy results as long as the biopsy is done within 2 weeks after starting treatment.
Prednisone, a corticosteroid, is effective. Initially, the dose is high to stop the inflammation in the blood vessels and prevent vision loss. After several weeks, doctors gradually reduce the dose if people are improving. Most people need to take prednisone for at least 2 years to control symptoms and prevent blindness. Tocilizumab is another drug that decreases inflammation. Doctors give tocilizumab alone or in combination with corticosteroids with the goal of reducing the time and/or the dose of corticosteroids that people need to take.
Doctors recommend people take a low dose of aspirin daily to help prevent strokes.
More Information
The following English-language resource may be useful. Please note that THE MANUAL is not responsible for the content of this resource.
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Vasculitis Foundation: Provides information for patients about vasculitis, including how to find a doctor, learn about research studies, and join patient advocacy groups
Drugs Mentioned In This Article
| Generic Name | Select Brand Names |
|---|---|
zoledronic acid |
ZOMETA |
risedronate |
ACTONEL |
alendronate |
FOSAMAX |
ibandronate |
BONIVA |
tocilizumab |
ACTEMRA |
Prednisone |
RAYOS |
aspirin |
No US brand name |
