Musculoskeletal

Giant Cell Arteritis

A large- and medium-vessel vasculitis in people over 50 that can cause irreversible visual loss, requiring immediate glucocorticoid treatment when strongly suspected and urgent specialist confirmation.

Definition

Giant cell arteritis is a large- and medium-vessel vasculitis, usually affecting people over 50 and often involving the cranial branches of the carotid arteries. It is an emergency because it can cause visual loss, stroke and other ischaemic complications.

First principles

Giant cell arteritis is a time-critical vasculitis

Giant cell arteritis inflames medium and large arteries, especially branches of the carotid and sometimes the aorta and its major branches. Cranial ischaemia can threaten vision or cause stroke, so treatment is started when the clinical suspicion is strong rather than waiting for confirmatory imaging or biopsy.

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