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What is Giant Cell Arteritis?
Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is an inflammatory condition mainly affecting the arteries of the upper body and head. As the most commonly affected arteries are (temporal arteries) on the side of the head, it is also known as temporal arteritis or cranial arteritis. It is mainly manifested as headaches and blurred or double vision. To reduce the risk of stroke, blindness, or other complications, prompt treatment is a must.
What are its signs and symptoms?
The individuals affected with GCA may experience some or almost all of the following symptoms:
- Tenderness and severe pain over the temples (along with thickening of the blood vessels) and the scalp which causes pain while brushing your hair or shaving
- Fatigue
- Hearing problems
- Pain, tenderness, and stiffness in the hips, legs, arms, and shoulder muscles, which is particularly experienced in the mornings
- Flu-like symptoms, including night sweats or fever
- Weight loss
- Headache
- Claudication (sensation of pain in the jaw or tongue while chewing)
- Difficulty in walking due to pain in the calves when large arteries are affected
- Sudden and mainly partial (sometimes total) loss of vision, which is rare and generally temporary in the early stages, but leads to permanent loss of vision if left untreated
- Double vision
- Rarely, strokes or mini-strokes
- Depression
The main symptoms that require immediate physician attention include
- Visual disturbance
- Pain in the jaw or tongue
What are its main causes?
The exact cause of GCA still remains unclear. However, some of the factors that are suspected to cause GCA include:
- Ageing
- Genetics
- Certain viral or bacterial infections
- History of cardiovascular disease
- Autoimmunity wherein the immune system of the body attacks and causes inflammation of the arteries
How is it diagnosed and treated?
Based on signs and symptoms, the following can be advised by the physician to confirm the diagnosis:
- Thorough medical history followed by a physical examination
- Biopsy of the affected tissue (surgically remove a small sample)
- Blood test to check the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)
- Magnetic resonance angiography (MRA)
- Doppler ultrasound
- Positron emission tomography (PET)
As untreated GCA can lead to serious complications, such as blindness and stroke (as a result of impaired blood flow to the eyes and brain), prompt treatment of this condition is advised. Treatment modalities for GCA are given below:
- Prednisone, a corticosteroid, is the main line of treatment
- Aspirin 100 mg daily in case of visual disturbances is recommended
