Orthopedic Surgeons and Rheumatology

Giant cell arthritis

 Giant cell arteritis (GCA), also referred to as arteritis, is an inflammatory autoimmune disorder of enormous blood vessels. Symptoms could include headache, pain over the temples, flu-like symptoms, vision defect, and opening gap the mouth. Complication will include blockage of the artery to the eye with resulting blindness, arteria dissection, and aortic aneurysm. GCA is often related to polymyalgia rheumatic.

The cause is unknown. The underlying mechanism involves inflammation of the little blood vessels that occur inside the walls of larger arteries. This primarily affects arteries around the head and neck, though some within the chest can also be affected. Diagnosis is suspected based on symptoms, blood tests, and medical imaging, and confirmed by diagnostic test of the temporal artery. However, in regarding 10% of individuals the temporal artery is normal.