Giant cell arteritis

Answer B. Giant cell arteritis

Giant cell arteritis also known as cranial arteritis or temporal arteritis, is usually seen in individuals over 50 years of age. The onset is usually gradual but may be abrupt rarely. Presenting features include malaise, fever, fatigue and weight loss, with headaches, tenderness of the scalp particularly over the temporal arteries, visual loss, diplopia, jaw claudication and aortic arch syndrome being the more common manifestations. On examination the temporal arteries may be tender, thickened and erythemateous. The visual loss is usually abrupt and painless and may vary from a partial deficit of one eye to complete blindness in both eyes. In such patients, the examination of the eye may show ischemic retinopathy in the initial stages and optic atrophy after several weeks.

Involvement of skin, kidneys, lungs and intracranial vessels occur rarely. Peripheral neuropathy may be seen in a few patients.

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