bone, joint, and muscle disorders
Giant Cell Arteritis
Symptoms of Giant Cell Arteritis
Symptoms of giant cell arteritis may begin gradually over several weeks or abruptly. People may have fever and feel tired and generally unwell. They may lose weight unintentionally and sweat more than usual. Symptoms vary, depending on which arteries are affected. Typically, the large arteries to the head are affected, causing a severe, sometimes throbbing headache at the temples or back of the head to develop for the first time. Arteries in the temple may be tender to the touch and feel swollen and bumpy. The scalp may feel painful when touched or when the hair is brushed. Double or blurred vision, large blind spots, sudden blindness in one eye that resolves within a few minutes, or other eye problems may develop. The greatest danger is permanent blindness, which can occur suddenly if the blood supply to the optic nerve is blocked. Complete blindness in both eyes is uncommon if people are treated as soon as the diagnosis is suspected but can occur without treatment. Over the past 50 years, the number of visual disturbances has gone down while recovery rates have gone up, most likely because giant cell arteritis is diagnosed earlier and treated before the eyes are affected. Typically, the jaw muscles hurt and become tired soon after people begin chewing. The tongue may also hurt when eating or speaking. People who experience pain in the jaw and tongue are more likely to have visual problems. Occasionally, blood flow to the brain is blocked, and a stroke occurs. Sometimes inflammation damages the aorta, causing its lining to tear (dissection) or a bulge (aneurysm) to form in its wall. If polymyalgia rheumatica is also present, severe pain and stiffness may occur in the neck, shoulders, and hip that is worse during the night and in the morning. Combing the hair and chewing often hurt when people have giant cell arteritis. 