Giant Cell Arteritis

Temporal arteritis (TA), or giant cell arteritis (GCA), is a form of vasculitis (inflammation of your blood vessels) that affects the arteries of your scalp, neck and arms. With this condition, most commonly your temporal arteries (the blood vessels near your temples) become inflamed (swollen) and constricted (narrowed). Your temporal arteries supply blood from your heart to your scalp, jaw muscles and optic (eye) nerves. Inflammation and narrowing of these arteries interrupts blood flow, leading to damage of your vital organs and tissues.

Temporal arteritis can involve other blood vessels, like your posterior ciliary arteries (leading to blindness), or large blood vessels like your aorta and its branches, which can also lead to serious health problems.

Other names for the condition include cranial arteritis and Horton’s arteritis. Temporal arteritis is commonly associated with another health condition called polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR).

Is giant cell arteritis a serious condition?

Yes. If not diagnosed and treated quickly, giant cell arteritis can cause:

• Damage to your eyesight, including sudden vision loss or blindness in one or both eyes.
• Damage to your blood vessels, like an aneurysm (a ballooning blood vessel that may burst).
• Other disorders, including stroke or transient ischemic attacks (“mini-strokes”).

How common is temporal arteritis?

Temporal arteritis is one of the most common vascular disorders, but it’s a relatively rare condition, affecting about 5 out of every 10,000 people.