Autoimmune/Rheumatic

Giant Cell Arteritis (Temporal Arteritis)

Giant cell arteritis is an inflammation of the blood vessels, especially the arteries that supply the head. It most often causes headaches, jaw pain, and vision problems. Immediate treatment is needed to prevent blindness. Giant cell arteritis often occurs with polymyalgia rheumatica. It primarily affects people over 50.

8

Symptoms

3

Causes

3

Treatments

1

Prevention

Condition Overview

Understand key symptoms, causes, diagnosis options, and treatment pathways for Giant Cell Arteritis (Temporal Arteritis). This overview is intended for patient awareness and should be followed by specialist consultation.

AutoimmuneRheumaticPrevalence Available

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Symptoms

  • Persistent, severe headache usually in the temple area
  • Scalp tenderness
  • Jaw pain when chewing (jaw claudication)
  • Vision problems (double vision or vision loss)
  • Fever
  • Fatigue
  • Unintended weight loss
  • Shoulder and hip pain (if also PMR)

Causes

  • Autoimmune inflammation of large and medium blood vessel walls
  • Exact trigger unknown
  • Genetic and environmental factors

Diagnosis

  • Physical examination
  • Blood tests (ESR, CRP)
  • Temporal artery biopsy (gold standard)
  • Ultrasound of temporal arteries
  • MRI or PET-CT

Treatment

  • High-dose corticosteroids (prednisone) — must start immediately to prevent vision loss
  • Tocilizumab (IL-6 inhibitor) for relapsing disease
  • Low-dose aspirin

Risk Factors

  • Age (over 50; peaks at 70–80)
  • Female sex
  • Northern European ancestry
  • Family history of GCA

Prevention

  • No known prevention

Prevalence

Affects about 200 per 100,000 persons over age 50 in the United States.