Giant cell arteritis

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Definition

Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is an inflammation of the lining of your arteries — the blood vessels that carry oxygen-rich blood from your heart to the rest of your body.

Although giant cell arteritis can affect the arteries in your neck, upper body and arms, it occurs most often in the arteries in your head, especially those in your temples. For this reason, giant cell arteritis is sometimes called temporal arteritis or cranial arteritis. Giant cell arteritis is also known as granulomatous arteritis — a reference to a particular type of inflammation.

Giant cell arteritis frequently causes headaches, jaw pain, and blurred or double vision, but the most serious potential complications are blindness and, less often, stroke. These problems can occur when swelling in your arteries impairs blood flow to your eyes or brain.

Adults older than age 50 are at greatest risk of giant cell arteritis. The exact cause isn't known, but researchers believe that genetic, viral and environmental factors may play roles in the inflammation.

Although there's no cure for giant cell arteritis, immediate treatment with corticosteroid medications usually relieves symptoms and prevents loss of vision.

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Symptoms