Giant Cell Arteritis (GCA)
What is it?
Giant cell arteritis (GCA), also called temporal arteritis, is a type of vasculitis in which the walls of the medium-sized and large-sized arteries of the body become inflamed. This inflammation restricts blood flow through the affected blood vessels causing pain and sometimes more serious complications. GCA most often affects the arteries near the temple and those in the scalp, head, neck and arms.
GCA occurs in people older than 50 years, and women are more often affected than men.
Quick diagnosis and early treatment with corticosteroids (such as prednisone) is very effective in GCA. Pain relief will come within two days and such serious complications as blindness can be prevented.
GCA is related to another inflammatory disease, polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR). In fact, about half of people with GCA also have the aches and pains of PMR. Corticosteroids are the treatment for both disorders, so your GCA treatment will also alleviate the PMR symptoms.
