Temporal arteritis
| Temporal arteritis | |
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| The arteries of the face and scalp. | |
| ICD-10 | M31.5 |
| ICD-9 | 446.5 |
| OMIM | 187360 |
| DiseasesDB | 12938 |
| MeSH | D013700 |
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Temporal Arteritis Microchapters |
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Temporal arteritis On the Web |
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American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Temporal arteritis |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor-In-Chief: Cafer Zorkun, M.D., Ph.D. [2]
Synonyms and keywords: GCA; giant cell arteritis; cranial arteritis; Horton's disease; Horton disease; Horton's arteritis; Horton syndrome; Horton's syndrome; granulomatous arteritis; polymyalgia arteritica
Overview
Temporal arteritis, also called giant cell arteritis (GCA) is an inflammatory disease of blood vessels (most commonly large and medium arteries of the head). It is therefore a form of vasculitis. The name comes from the most frequently involved vessel (temporal artery which branches from the external carotid artery of the neck). The alternative name (giant cell arteritis) reflects the type of inflammatory cell that is involved (as seen on biopsy).
The disorder may coexist (in one quarter of cases) with polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR), which is characterized by sudden onset of pain and stiffness in muscles (pelvis, shoulder) of the body and seen in the elderly. Other diseases related with temporal arteritis are systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis and severe infections.
This diagnosis should be considered in any patient over the age of 50 with the new onset of headache, particularly is the erythrocyte sedimentation rate is elevated.
Prompt treatment with steroids is a medical emergency to reduce the risk of blindness.
Diganosis
Diagnosis
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Additional Resources
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