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Complications
By Mayo Clinic staffGiant cell arteritis can cause the following complications:
- Blindness. This is the most serious complication of GCA. The swelling that occurs with giant cell arteritis narrows your blood vessels, reducing the amount of blood — and therefore oxygen and vital nutrients — that reaches your body's tissues. Diminished blood flow to your eyes can cause sudden, painless vision loss in one or, in rare cases, both eyes. Unfortunately, blindness is usually permanent.
- Aortic aneurysm. Having giant cell arteritis increases your risk of aneurysm. An aneurysm is a bulge that forms in a weakened blood vessel, usually in the aorta, the large artery that runs down the center of your chest and abdomen. An aortic aneurysm is a serious condition because it may burst, causing life-threatening internal bleeding. Because it may occur even years after the initial diagnosis of GCA, your doctor may monitor the health of your aorta with annual chest X-rays or other imaging tests, such as ultrasound, CT scan or MRI.
- Stroke. In some cases, a blood clot may form in an affected artery, obstructing blood flow completely, depriving part of your brain of necessary oxygen and nutrients, and causing stroke. This serious condition is an uncommon complication of GCA.
References
- Giant cell arteritis. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/print/sec04/ch033/ch033e.html. Accessed May 25, 2010.
- Giant cell arteritis. American College of Rheumatology. http://www.rheumatology.org/practice/clinical/patients/diseases_and_conditions/giantcellarteritis.asp. Accessed May 25, 2010.
- Unwin B, et al. Polymyalgia rheumatica and giant cell arteritis. American Family Physician. 2006;74:1547.
- Polymyalgia rheumatica and giant cell arteritis. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Polymyalgia/default.asp. Accessed May 25, 2010.
- Salvarani C, et al. Polymyalgia rheumatica and giant cell arteritis. Lancet. 2008;372:234.
- Gonzalez-Gay MA, et al. Epidemiology of giant cell arteritis and polymyalgia rheumatic. Arthritis & Rheumatism. 2009;61:1454.
- Hunder GG. Treatment of giant cell (temporal) arteritis. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed May 25, 2010.
- Hunder GG. Diagnosis of giant cell (temporal) arteritis. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed May 25, 2010.
- Chang-Miller A (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. June 2, 2010.
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