Giant Cell Arteritis (Temporal Arteritis)

What is giant cell arteritis and who does it affect?

Giant cell arteritis is a condition which causes inflammation on the inside of some arteries (blood vessels). It is called 'giant cell' because abnormal large cells develop in the wall of the inflamed arteries. The arteries commonly affected are those around the head and neck area. The artery most commonly affected is the temporal artery. (You have a temporal artery on each side of the head. They are under the skin to the sides of the forehead - the temple area.) Therefore, the condition is sometimes called 'temporal arteritis'.

Giant cell arteritis is uncommon and mainly affects people over the age of 60. It rarely affects people under 50. Women are more commonly affected than men. The cause is not known.

What are the symptoms of giant cell arteritis?

• Headache is the common symptom.This may develop suddenly, or it can come on gradually over several days or weeks. The headache can be one sided, or on both sides, mainly towards the front and sides of the head.
• Tenderness of the scalp over the temporal arteries is common. You may be able to feel one or both of the inflamed arteries under the skin, or see them in a mirror.
• Other symptoms may occur and include: pain in the jaw or tongue, particularly when you chew or talk; problems with vision such as blurred vision or sudden loss of vision for a short time. These occur if the arteries going to these parts of the body are inflamed, become narrowed, and reduce the blood supply to these areas.
• Some general symptoms may also occur. These include: tiredness, depression, night sweats, fever, loss of appetite, and weight loss.

Up to half of people with giant cell arteritis develop a related condition at the same time called polymyalgia rheumatica. If this develops you will also develop pain, tenderness and stiffness of muscles around the shoulders, hips and back.  The treatment is similar for both conditions.

What are the possible complications of giant cell arteritis?

Complications are much less likely to occur if treatment is started soon after symptoms begin. Possible complications of untreated giant cell arteritis include the following.

• Blindness in one or both eyes. If an affected artery becomes very inflamed, the blood supply going down that artery can become blocked. The most common arteries this affects are the small arteries going to the eye. If one of these arteries becomes blocked it can cause permanent serious problems, even blindness.
• Rarely, a stroke or deafness may occur (caused by a blocked artery in the brain).
• Other serious complications occasionally develop if the inflammation occurs in other arteries. For example, a heart attack, an aortic aneurysm, or damage to nerves.

Do I need any tests?

A blood test can detect if there is inflammation in your body. If the blood test shows a high level of inflammation, and you have the typical symptoms, then giant cell arteritis is likely. However, the blood test is not specific for giant cell arteritis (it can also be high in other 'inflammatory disorders'.) Also, some people with giant cell arteritis have a normal blood test.