Is giant cell arteritis a serious condition?

Is giant cell arteritis a serious condition?

Temporal arteritis (giant cell arteritis) is where the arteries, particularly those at the side of the head (the temples), become inflamed. It’s serious and needs urgent treatment.

Is giant cell arteritis a medical emergency?

Giant cell arteritis (GCA), also known as temporal arteritis or Horton’s arteritis, is an inflammation T-lymphocyte mediated inflammation affecting the internal elastic lamina and external arteries of large and medium size. It is a medical emergency that can result in severe systemic and ocular complications.

What is the most serious complication of giant cell arteritis?

Giant cell arteritis can cause serious complications, including: Blindness. Diminished blood flow to your eyes can cause sudden, painless vision loss in one or, rarely, both eyes. Loss of vision is usually permanent.

Can giant cell arteritis cause dementia?

Dementia occurs infrequently in patients with giant cell (temporal) arteritis (GCA). Three elderly women with biopsy-proven GCA showed abrupt cognitive decline during periods of clinically active GCA, 1 to 6 months after diagnostic temporal artery biopsy, during periods of corticosteroid taper.

Does giant cell arteritis cause hair loss?

Temporal arteritis (TA), a disease most often diagnosed in patients over the age of 50 years, frequently presents with nonspecific and often ignored complaints (headache, symptoms of polymyalgia rheumatica, low-grade fever, fever of unknown origin, loss of appetite, depression, joint pains, weight loss, hair loss, and …

Can giant cell arteritis cause stroke?

GCA increases your risk of an ischemic stroke, although this complication is rare. An ischemic stroke happens when a clot blocks the flow of blood to the brain.

Can giant cell arteritis affect the heart?

Patients with GCA seem to be at increased risk for cardiovascular events, with heightened rate of acute myocardial infarction, cerebral vascular attack, and peripheral vascular disease.