Giant cell arteritis

• Published in: Postgraduate Medical Journal Vol. 79; no. 935; pp. 511 - 515
• Main Author: Calvo-Romero, J M
• Format: Journal Article Book Review
• Language: English
• Published: London The Fellowship of Postgraduate Medicine 01.09.2003; BMJ; BMJ Publishing Group Ltd; Oxford University Press; BMJ Group
• Subjects: Aortic Aneurysm - etiology; Biological and medical sciences; Care and treatment; Complications and side effects; Diagnosis; Evaluation; Eye Diseases - etiology; Giant cell arteritis; Giant Cell Arteritis - complications; Giant Cell Arteritis - diagnosis; Giant Cell Arteritis - therapy; Horton’s arteritis; Humans; Medical sciences; Nervous System Diseases - etiology; Polymyalgia Rheumatica - etiology; Prognosis; Review; Sarcoidosis. Granulomatous diseases of unproved etiology. Connective tissue diseases. Elastic tissue diseases. Vasculitis; Statistics; Steroids - therapeutic use; temporal arteritis; vasculitis; Spain; Vascular disease; Human; Vasculitis; Systemic disease; Cardiovascular disease; Giant cell arteritis; Review
• ISSN: 0032-5473; 1469-0756
• DOI: 10.1136/pmj.79.935.511

Giant cell arteritis (GCA), temporal arteritis or Horton’s arteritis, is a systemic vasculitis which involves large and medium sized vessels, especially the extracranial branches of the carotid arteries, in persons usually older than 50 years. Permanent visual loss, ischaemic strokes, and thoracic and abdominal aortic aneurysms are feared complications of GCA. The treatment consists of high dose steroids. Mortality, with a correct treatment, in patients with GCA seems to be similar that of controls.