Overview

Giant cell arteritis is irritation and swelling, called inflammation, of the lining of the arteries. Arteries are blood vessels that carry blood from the heart to other parts of the body. Most often, giant cell arteritis affects the arteries in the head, mainly those in the temples. For this reason, giant cell arteritis used to be called temporal arteritis.

Giant cell arteritis often causes headaches, scalp soreness, jaw pain with chewing, and vision issues. If not treated, giant cell arteritis can lead to blindness.

Early treatment with corticosteroid medicines most often relieves symptoms of giant cell arteritis. The treatment might prevent loss of vision. But even with treatment, symptoms often return. This is called relapse.

People with giant cell arteritis need regular checkups with their healthcare professionals. They also need treatment for the condition and to prevent side effects of the corticosteroids.

Symptoms

The most common symptoms of giant cell arteritis are headaches and tenderness in both temples or other areas of the scalp. Symptoms can be bad.

Symptoms of giant cell arteritis may include:

  • New, lasting head pain, most often in the temples.
  • Scalp soreness.
  • Jaw pain when chewing.
  • Fever.
  • Tiredness.
  • Weight loss.
  • Vision loss or double vision, mainly in people who also have jaw pain.
  • Sudden, lasting loss of vision in one eye.

Pain and stiffness in the neck, shoulders or hips are common symptoms of a linked condition called polymyalgia rheumatica. About 40% to 50% of people with giant cell arteritis also have polymyalgia rheumatica.

When to see a doctor

If you get a new, lasting headache or any of the symptoms listed above, see your healthcare professional right away. If you're diagnosed with giant cell arteritis, starting treatment quickly may help prevent vision loss.

Causes

It's not clear what causes arteries to become inflamed in giant cell arteritis. But experts believe it may involve the immune system attacking the artery walls by mistake. Certain genes and factors in the environment might raise your risk of the condition.

Risk factors

Several factors can increase your risk of getting giant cell arteritis, including:

  • Age. Giant cell arteritis affects adults, most often those older than 50. Most people with this condition get symptoms between the ages of 70 and 80.
  • Sex assigned at birth. People assigned female at birth are about twice as likely to get the condition as are people assigned male at birth.
  • Race and ethnic background. Giant cell arteritis is most common among white people in Northern Europe or those of Scandinavian descent.
  • Polymyalgia rheumatica. Having this condition raises the risk of giant cell arteritis.

Complications

Giant cell arteritis can cause serious complications, including:

  • Blindness. This is the complication of giant cell arteritis that causes the most worry. Less blood flow to the eyes can cause sudden, painless vision loss in one eye. Rarely, vision loss affects both eyes. Loss of vision most often is lifelong.

  • Aortic aneurysm. An aneurysm is a bulge that forms in a weakened blood vessel. The bulge most often is in the large artery that runs down the center of the chest and belly, called the aorta. An aortic aneurysm might burst, causing life-threatening bleeding inside the body.

    Because this complication can happen even years after a diagnosis of giant cell arteritis, your healthcare professional may check your aorta with periodic imaging tests, such as echocardiogram, CT or MRI.

  • Stroke. This complication of giant cell arteritis isn't common.
By Mayo Clinic Staff