musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders
Giant Cell Arteritis
Introduction
Giant cell arteritis involves predominantly the thoracic aorta, large arteries emerging from the aorta in the neck, and extracranial branches of the carotid arteries. Symptoms of polymyalgia rheumatica are common. Symptoms and signs may include headaches, visual disturbances, temporal artery tenderness, and pain in the jaw muscles during chewing. Fever, weight loss, malaise, and fatigue are also common. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein are typically elevated. Diagnosis is clinical and confirmed by temporal artery biopsy. Treatment with high-dose corticosteroids and/ortocilizumab, andaspirinis usually effective and prevents vision loss. (See also Overview of Vasculitis .) 90. About 40 to 60% of patients with giant cell arteritis have symptoms of Polymyalgia Rheumatica . The intracranial vessels are usually not affected. 