Giant cell arteritis
Brief description of the condition
Giant cell arteritis, previously known as temporal arteritis, involves inflammation and damage to medium- and large-sized blood vessels of the head, typically affecting the superficial temporal arteries in patients over 50 years of age. Depending on which vessels are affected, there may be a risk of blindness.
Key signs and symptoms
- Pain (headache, usually unilateral temporal, and/or jaw pain when chewing that subsides when jaw at rest)
- Scalp tenderness
- Visual disturbances such as loss of vision, double vision, blurred vision, changes to colour vision
- Temporal artery abnormality such as tenderness, thickening, or nodularity
- Systemic features such as fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, weight loss
Initial management
If giant cell arteritis is strongly suspected, refer the patient for emergency medical care because high dose glucocorticoid prescription without delay is likely to be required.55,56
- General medical practitioners may initiate glucocorticoid treatment alongside an urgent referral for specialist assessment.
Subsequent care (medical)
Provide follow-up medical care in liaison with a specialist for diagnosis and ongoing management of the condition.