HomeHealth articlestemporal arteritisWhat Is Giant Cell Arteritis?

Giant Cell Arteritis: An Overview

Verified dataVerified data
0

4 min read

Share

Giant cell arteritis, also known as temporal arteritis, is an inflammatory condition of the lining of the arterial vessels resulting in poor blood supply.

Medically reviewed by

Dr. Sugreev Singh

Published At January 5, 2023
Reviewed AtJuly 19, 2023

What Is Giant Cell Arteritis?

Giant cell arteritis or temporal arteritis is a systemic form of vasculitis characterized by inflammation of the endothelial lining of the arteries resulting in swelling and pain in the arteries. It usually affects the larger blood vessels of the body, but the small and medium blood vessels may also be affected. It also affects the superficial temporal arteries that branch off from the main carotid artery of the neck; hence the name temporal arteritis is also used as a synonym.

It usually occurs in the older age group and can lead to cardiac, systemic, nervous, and eye complications. It is the most frequently occurring type of adult systemic vasculitis.

What Are the Synonyms of Giant Cell Arteritis?

  • Temporal arteritis.

  • Cranial arteritis.

  • Horton’s disease

  • Granulomatous arteritis.

  • Arteritis of the aged.

What Is the Epidemiology of Giant Cell Arteritis?

Giant cell arteritis is the most common type of systemic inflammatory vasculitis. However, it is a rare condition affecting approximately five to seven out of 10,000 people. It occurs in aged people who are above 50 years old. Women are more commonly affected than men. It usually occurs in association with another systemic inflammatory disease called polymyalgia rheumatica. The condition might have a hereditary pattern and is commonly found in people of European origin.

What Are the Causes of Giant Cell Arteritis?

  • Unknown Etiology: The etiology of giant cell arteritis is not completely known.

  • Defective Immune Response: Some researchers believe it to be triggered by a defect in the host’s immune system resulting in the immune cells attacking the healthy body cells.

  • Genetics: The disease is also linked to certain hereditary and genetic factors.

  • Microbial Infections: Certain infections can also trigger the etiopathogenesis of the condition.

What Are the Symptoms of Giant Cell Arteritis?

Prodromal Symptoms:

The early prodromal symptoms of the disease include:

Other Symptoms:

Temporal Region of the Head:

  • The headache is dull, throbbing, and continuous on one side or back of the head. It is one of the most common symptoms of the disease when the temporal arteries are involved.

  • The arteries appear knotted, painful, thicker, twisted, and nodular under the scalp and gradually may become pulseless.

  • They bulge out, with the overlying skin appearing red and swollen.

  • Pain at the temples of the head.

  • Pain in the jaws that aggravates after mastication.

  • Pain in the arms, shoulders, thighs, hips, spine, and back muscles.

  • The disease is also found to be associated with polymyalgia rheumatica. They frequently occur together. (polymyalgia rheumatica is a systemic inflammatory condition characterized by pain in the neck, shoulders, and hips).

  • Neck rigidity.

Eyes:

  • Blurred vision.

  • Double vision.

  • Transient vision loss, if left untreated, may become permanent.

Cardiac Region:

  • Aorta can be affected, which is the largest artery of the body. This leads to pain in the arms.

  • Arterial wall thinning can lead to an aortic aneurysm (a small bulge in the walls of the aorta that leads to the weakening of the arterial walls).

  • Arterial dissection can occur in rare cases (an emergency situation where a tear is formed in the heart's blood vessels).

Brain:

  • Stroke and other neural disorders can also occur, but the chances are rare.

How Is Giant Cell Arteritis Diagnosed?

1) Patient Medical History- Complete patient history is crucial for diagnosing the disease.

2) Physical Examination-

  • Weak Pulse Rate- A thorough physical examination of the patient should be performed by the doctor, including the pulse and respiratory rates. A weak pulse rate is indicative of the condition.
  • Scalp and Head of the Patient- The healthcare professional should look for tenderness in the scalp and thickening and swelling of the temporal arteries in the affected individual.

3) Blood Tests-

  • Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate- This can be determined to measure the amount of inflammation by estimating the rate at which the erythrocytes or the red blood cells fall or sediment in an hour or so. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate is found to be higher in people affected with giant cell arteritis disease.
  • C- Reactive Protein- This can also be estimated to measure the inflammation and the amount of swelling. However, the doctor should not completely rely on these blood tests since other diseases also show similar results.
  • Anemia- The doctor can look for hemoglobin levels to check the degree of anemia in the patient.

4) Ultrasound of the Temporal Arteries- Ultrasound of the temporal arteries on the side of the head can be done. A positive result is suggestive of giant cell arteritis. A negative report does not rule out the diagnosis of giant cell arteritis. A biopsy will be required to confirm the diagnosis.

5) Biopsy of the Temporal Artery- A small piece of the temporal artery can be surgically removed to examine the inflammatory signs of the disease microscopically. It is done under local anesthesia.

6) Microscopic Examination- It reveals inflammatory changes in the lining of the arteries.

7) Other Imaging Tests-

  • Magnetic resonance imaging.
  • Positron emission tomography.
  • Ultrasound examination.

What Is the Treatment of Giant Cell Arteritis?

  • Drug Management: There is no particular treatment for the condition, but the drug management of the disease is done.

  • Early Treatment: Early treatment of the disorder is critical to prevent the disease from progressing and manifesting permanent vision loss and other serious complications.

  • Oral Corticosteroids: It is the mainstay of drug treatment. Steroids are usually started at a higher dose and reduced with time. In patients having serious complications, steroids can be administered intravenously.

  • Side Effects of Steroids: They reduce bone mineral density; hence, the patient should be prescribed calcium supplements and vitamin D.

  • Biologic Medicine: Tocilizumab is found to be effective in the affected individuals who cannot tolerate corticosteroids.

  • Lifestyle Modifications: Avoid smoking and alcohol consumption.

How to Take Care of Yourself?

  • Regular doctor visits should be done to monitor the disease closely.

  • The progression of the disease can be limited by adopting healthy eating habits. A nutritious and well-balanced diet should be incorporated to take the necessary nutrients that are required to strengthen the body.

  • Physical exercise should be done regularly for the proper functioning of the body.

  • Proper rest and adequate sleep should be taken.

Conclusion:

Giant cell arteritis, also called temporal arteritis, is a form of systemic inflammatory vasculitis that, if left untreated, can lead to serious complications. Therefore, early diagnosis and treatment of the disease are crucial. The doctor should perform a biopsy and other diagnostic tests to confirm the diagnosis. The patient should also take proper care of himself to prevent the disease. The prognosis is good in cases of early treatment of the condition.

Frequently Asked Questions

1.

Does Giant Cell Arteritis Cause Headaches?

Yes, giant cell arteritis commonly causes headaches. It mostly affects the temporal arteries of the head. Hence, it is also known as temporal arteritis. It also causes scalp tenderness.

2.

What Type of Headache Do You Feel in Giant Cell Arteritis?

Headaches usually occur in the temporal region with severe pain and tenderness. It is usually painful to brush hair or even shave. Giant cell arteritis headaches can cause pain elsewhere in the head too.

3.

Does GiantCcell Arteritis Run in Families?

Giant cell arteritis may run in families. Family history might be a risk factor for GCA. It is usually observed in elderly people over 50 years of age. It is most frequently seen in people of northern European origin.

4.

Can Giant Cell Arteritis Lead to Facial Swelling?

Giant cell arteritis is an inflammation of the arteries of elderly people. However, facial swelling is an uncommon clinical manifestation of the arterial inflammatory process. If the diagnosis is delayed, the condition can lead to a marked loss of vision.

5.

How Does Giant Cell (Temporal) Arteritis Make You Feel?

Temporal arteritis symptoms include severe headaches, pain and swelling in the scalp region, jaw pain, loss of vision, fever, and tiredness. The pain in the head usually comes and goes.

6.

What Are the Criteria for the Diagnosis of Giant Cell Arteritis?

The following criteria are followed to examine giant cell arteritis.  The patient’s age must be 50 years or older. New-onset headaches or head pain should be localized. There should be tenderness to palpation in the temporal artery or reduced pulsation.

7.

What Is the Mortality Rate for Giant Cell Arteritis?

Giant cell arteritis patients have a higher risk of death due to the risk of circulatory diseases and infections. The death rate was 6.4% one year after the index date and 45 % after ten years.

8.

What Are the Conditions Associated With Giant Cell Arteritis?

GCA is usually associated with a condition called polymyalgia rheumatica. It causes pain and stiffness in the shoulder, neck, and hip muscles. It is also linked to irreversible vision loss.

9.

Is a Biopsy Needed for Giant Cell Arteritis?

A biopsy of the temporal artery of the head is the best way to confirm a diagnosis of giant cell arteritis. A small artery sample is taken under local anesthesia and sent for histological examination.

10.

How Is a Biopsy Performed for Giant Cell Arteritis?

The biopsy for giant cell arteritis is usually performed under local anesthesia. The temporal arteries present superficially are bilaterally palpated to assess for signs of arteritis. 

11.

What Blood Tests Are Done for Giant Cell Arteritis?

The two major blood tests for giant cell arteritis include the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and the C-reactive protein test (CRP). Both of these tests can detect inflammation.

12.

What Foods to Avoid in Giant Cell Arteritis?

Avoid foods that might contribute to inflammation, such as:
- Sweets.
- Fried foods.
- Processed and packaged foods.
- Red Meat.
- Gluten.
Source Article IclonSourcesSource Article Arrow
Dr. Sugreev Singh
Dr. Sugreev Singh

Internal Medicine

Tags:

giant cell arteritistemporal arteritis
Community Banner Mobile
By subscribing, I agree to iCliniq's Terms & Privacy Policy.

Source Article ArrowMost popular articles

Do you have a question on

temporal arteritis

Ask a doctor online

*guaranteed answer within 4 hours

Disclaimer: No content published on this website is intended to be a substitute for professional medical diagnosis, advice or treatment by a trained physician. Seek advice from your physician or other qualified healthcare providers with questions you may have regarding your symptoms and medical condition for a complete medical diagnosis. Do not delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice because of something you have read on this website. Read our Editorial Process to know how we create content for health articles and queries.

This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. iCliniq privacy policy