What is one of the most serious complications of giant cell arteritis?
The most feared complication of giant cell arteritis is irreversible vision loss. Other complications include aortic aneurysms, which can rarely rupture, and cerebrovascular events in the vertebrobasilar distribution.
Why do they call it giant cell arteritis?
The term “giant cell arteritis” is often used because when one looks at biopsies of inflamed temporal arteries under a microscope, one often sees large or “giant” cells.
What mimics giant cell arteritis?
Other clinical mimics of GCA with abnormal biopsies include polyarteritis nodosum, GPA, eosinophilic granulomatosis, mantle cell lymphoma, skull metastasis and epithelioid haemangioma. Histopathologically the vasculitides have much in common and there is much variation even amongst patients with GCA.
Can giant cell arteritis cause dementia?
Abstract. Dementia occurs infrequently in patients with giant cell (temporal) arteritis (GCA). Three elderly women with biopsy-proven GCA showed abrupt cognitive decline during periods of clinically active GCA, 1 to 6 months after diagnostic temporal artery biopsy, during periods of corticosteroid taper.
Does giant cell arteritis affect your memory?
Does giant cell arteritis cause memory loss?
Previously published case reports concerning this atypical presentation of GCA are scarce. They suggest that numerous cognitive symptoms, such as impairment of short-term memory, disorientation, delirium, impaired attention or visual hallucinations might be related to GCA.
Does giant cell arteritis cause death?
The mortality rate of patients with giant cell arteritis increased from 50 deaths per 1,000 in 2000 to 57.6 per 1,000 in 2018, while mortality among the general population declined, according to data published in Arthritis Care & Research.
What do you need to know about giant cell arteritis?
Giant cell arteritis 1 Overview. Giant cell arteritis is an inflammation of the lining of your arteries. 2 Symptoms. The most common symptoms of giant cell arteritis are head pain… 3 Causes. With giant cell arteritis, the lining of arteries becomes inflamed, causing them to swell. 4 Risk factors. Giant cell arteritis affects adults only,…
What is giant cell arteritis (TCA)?
Overview Giant cell arteritis is an inflammation of the lining of your arteries. Most often, it affects the arteries in your head, especially those in your temples. For this reason, giant cell arteritis is sometimes called temporal arteritis.
What is the normal leukocyte count in giant cell arteritis?
The leukocyte count at presentation is usually normal, a point favoring giant cell arteritis over infection or malignancy. Because blindness from giant cell arteritis is almost irreversible, treatment with 40 to 60 mg of prednisone should be started as soon as the diagnosis is suspected.
Is giant cell arteritis hereditary?
Inheritance. While the exact cause of giant cell arteritis (GCA) is still being investigated, studies have linked both genetic and non-genetic factors to the development of GCA. [4] Familial cases of GCA have been reported, and research indicates that some people with GCA may have a genetic predisposition to…