Giant Cell Arteritis
One of the problems with this condition is that very few people are aware of it – often patients don’t realise what their symptoms mean, and even medical professionals have sometimes found it difficult to spot - Trust me, I'm a Doctor
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Getting the Right Care for Painful Autoimmune Conditions
Beth Uffner, an avid tennis player, developed an aching pain first in her legs, then in her shoulders that got progressively worse until she lacked the strength to get out of a chair unaided, let alone play tennis. Faith Sullivan, a novelist, developed a headache so devastating that she could hardly read and had to take a fistful of aspirin to get through a scheduled talk about her books.
Both women were in their mid-70s when they were seized by different but related inflammatory autoimmune conditions — polymyalgia rheumatica in Ms. Uffner, temporal arteritis in Ms. Sullivan. Both disorders can sometimes afflict the same person. And while both are life-inhibiting, giant-cell arteritis…
Resources
A Headache with Consequences - Temporal Arteritis
Based on this history and physical you are concerned about temporal arteritis. So how do you finalize your diagnosis? Is there any other testing you need to perform? Do you need to start any therapies? When should you involve a consultant? Does the patient require admission or specific outpatient follow up? And what is temporal arteritis anyhow…
Giant Cell Arteritis: Updates and Controversies
GCA poses a significant disease burden due to its potential risk of permanent visual loss, as well as frequent adverse side effects from long-term glucocorticoid treatment.
One Giant Step for Giant Cell Arteritis: Updates in Diagnosis and Treatment
Giant cell arteritis (GCA), a medium and large vessel vasculitis occurring in the aged, remains a formidable disease, capable of taking both vision and life, through a multitude of vascular complications. Our understanding of the spectrum of its manifestations has grown over the years, to include limb claudication, aortitis, and cardiac disease, in addition to the more classic visual complications resulting from of ischemia to branches of the external and internal carotid arteries.
The Pain Was Squeezing His Head Like an Octopus. What Was It?
In G.C.A., the targets are usually the blood vessels of the face, the eyes and the brain. Untreated, the disorder can cause blindness, strokes, even heart attacks. Because of that risk, when the diagnosis of G.C.A. is considered, treatment with high doses of steroids must be started immediately — even before the biopsy.
Giant cell arteritis: Always keep it in your head
Giant cell arteritis, also referred to as temporal arteritis, is a form of vasculitis which predominantly affects older people. It must be treated urgently, as it is associated with a significant risk of permanent visual loss, stroke, aneurysm and possible death.
How not to miss - temporal arteritis
Consultant rheumatologist and senior lecturer Dr Samantha Hider advises on the key symptoms and pitfalls in diagnosing temporal arteritis.
Strange bedfellows: Polymyalgia rheumatica and temporal arteritis
Two related inflammatory conditions affect different parts of the body. After age 50, you can expect a little joint stiffness or muscle soreness the morning after a challenging workout or some heavy yard work. Usually, a hot shower, massage, or good night's rest will put things right. But for women with polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR), those common remedies aren't enough. PMR isn't a life-threatening condition, but it can severely limit your daily activities and take a heavy toll on your sleep and well-being. PMR can come on gradually over days or weeks or may appear suddenly. You may feel fine one day and terrible the next. PMR is closely related to a potentially more serious condition called temporal arteritis,
What is giant cell arteritis and how can I recognise it?
It is called ‘giant cell’ because abnormally large cells accumulate in the artery walls. One of the arteries that is commonly affected provides blood to the optic nerve, and if the optic nerve is starved of blood it can lead to irreversible sight loss.
Giant Cell Arteritis and Polymyalgia Rheumatica: 2016 Update.
Giant cell arteritis (GCA) and polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) are both more common among people of North European decent than among Mediterranean people. Women are 2-3 times more commonly affected. Giant cell arteritis and PMR are extremely rare before age 50 years.
Giant-Cell Arteritis and Polymyalgia Rheumatica
Giant-cell arteritis is an inflammatory vasculopathy that typically occurs in medium and large arteries with well-developed wall layers and adventitial vasa vasorum. The vascular beds that are usually affected include the external carotid branches (e.g., temporal and occipital arteries), the ophthalmic, vertebral, distal subclavian, and axillary arteries, and the thoracic aorta.
The spectrum of giant cell arteritis and polymyalgia rheumatica: revisiting the concept of the disease
GCA and PMR are conditions of older persons that frequently overlap. The traditional concept of GCA has focused on cranial symptoms such as headache and visual disturbance, but extra-cranial manifestations such as constitutional symptoms, polymyalgia and limb claudication have also long been recognized.
Getting the Right Care for Painful Autoimmune Conditions
A corticosteroid can quickly relieve symptoms of both polymyalgia rheumatica and temporal arteritis. But a delay could cause vision loss, a stroke or even death.
Older women are needlessly going blind. Why isn’t it a national scandal?
GPs regularly fail to diagnose giant cell arteritis, a disease that causes blindness in hundreds of women every year.
An Unusual Case of Giant Cell Arteritis
Giant cell arteritis (GCA), also known as temporal arteritis (TA), is a systemic autoimmune inflammation of the medium and large arteries. Typically, patients initially present with new-onset headaches, visual changes and disturbances, jaw claudication, arthralgias, and tender or swollen temporal or occipital arteries.
Diagnostic delay for giant cell arteritis – a systematic review and meta-analysis
Despite the reported time-period of diagnostic delay being considerably varied within some article samples, on average, patients experience a 9-week delay between the onset of their symptoms and receiving a diagnosis of GCA. Even when the patient has a ‘classical’ cranial presentation, delay remains considerable.
Giant Cell Arteritis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Test Accuracy and Benefits and Harms of Common Treatments
This systematic review compares treatment options for patients with giant cell arteritis (GCA) and evaluates the test accuracy of studies used in diagnosing and monitoring GCA.
Getting the Right Care for Painful Autoimmune Conditions
A corticosteroid can quickly relieve symptoms of both polymyalgia rheumatica and temporal arteritis. But a delay could cause vision loss, a stroke or even death.
Polymyalgia Rheumatica and Giant Cell Arteritis UK
PMRGCAuk is the national charity to raise awareness, promote research, and provide support for people with polymyalgia rheumatica and giant cell arteritis
Arthritis Foundation
Giant cell arteritis (GCA), or temporal arteritis, is an inflammatory disease affecting the large blood vessels of the scalp, neck and arms. Inflammation causes a narrowing or blockage of the blood vessels, which interrupts blood flow. The disease is commonly associated with polymyalgia rheumatica.
Rheumatology.org
In an older adult, a new, persisting headache - especially if together with flu-like symptoms, unexplained fatigue (tiredness) or fevers - can be due to an illness called giant cell arteritis, also known as GCA. It is a disease of the blood vessels that can occur together with a joint pain condition called polymyalgia rheumatica (also called PMR).
Vasculitis Foundation
Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is a form of vasculitis—a family of rare disorders characterized by inflammation of the blood vessels, which can restrict blood flow and damage vital organs and tissues. Also called temporal arteritis, GCA typically affects the arteries in the neck and scalp, especially the temples. It can also affect the aorta and its large branches to the head, arms and legs. GCA is the most common form of vasculitis in adults over the age of 50.
Vasculitis UK
Whether you are a patient, carer or medical professional you will find a wealth of accurate and up to date information here, all derived from reliable sources.
EyeWiki
References to GCA can be found dating all the way back to 10th century Baghdad. The earliest observation was recorded by an oculgiaist named Ali Ibn Isa. He had discussed a potential relationship between inflamed arteries and visual signs and symptoms.
Harvard Health
Giant cell arteritis, also called temporal arteritis, is a disease in which the medium-sized arteries that supply the eye, scalp and face become inflamed and narrowed. This disease can cause loss of vision, so it is essential that the problem be diagnosed and treated as early as possible. Larger blood vessels, including the aorta and its branches, also may be involved, and can lead to the blood vessel weakening and even rupturing years later.
NORD
Visual disturbances like double vision or transient loss of vision can occur in one or both eyes that are not long lasting. However, serious complications can occur such as blindness that occurs in 15% to 30% of patients that is not reversible with steroids. Blindness in just one eye occurs as well, but if left untreated 25% to 50% of patients can experience loss of vision in the other eye.
StatPearls
While TA generally occurs in people over the age of 50, the average age of onset is 75. Women are more commonly affected, almost four times more than men.
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