Giant cell arteritis (temporal arteritis)
Giant cell arteritis (GCA), also known as temporal arteritis, is an inflammation of arteries, usually in the head and neck. It's a common type of inflammation of the arteries and veins. It usually affects people over the age of 50. Contact your GP immediately if you have any symptoms.
Symptoms of GCA
Symptoms of GCA include:
- a headache that develops suddenly and usually affects the front or the side of the head (temples)
- jaw pain which typically occurs when chewing or talking
- problems with vision, such as reduced or total loss of vision in one or both eyes or double vision
If the arteritis is left untreated, the visual problems can result in permanent blindness.
The symptoms usually develop quite quickly, although many people report other symptoms, such as:
- mild fever, with a temperature of 37 to 38˚C
- extreme tiredness
- loss of appetite
- weight loss
- depression
Polymyalgia rheumatica
Around half of people with GCA also develop polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR), a related but less serious condition.
PMR causes inflammation of the muscles and sometimes the joints.
The symptoms of PMR can develop before, after, or at the same time as the symptoms of GCA.
When to see your GP
GCA needs urgent medical attention and treatment with steroids. Without prompt treatment it can lead to permanent visual impairment.
Contact your GP as soon as possible if you have any of the main symptoms of GCA (see above).
An examination of your symptoms and blood tests may be carried out if it's thought you have GCA.
You may need to go to hospital for further testing.
Treatment for GCA
Treatment for GCA will usually begin as soon as possible. This may mean that treatment begins before a diagnosis is confirmed.
The main treatment for GCA is steroid medication (corticosteroids).
Your GP will discuss which treatment is best for you.
Complications
The damage to the blood vessels in GCA can increase the risk of serious problems developing. These include:
- permanent sight loss
- abdominal aortic aneurysm
- cardiovascular disease
More useful links
The information on this page has been adapted from original content from the NHS website.
For further information see terms and conditions.