Temporal Arteritis

What Is Temporal Arteritis?

Temporal Arteritis (also known as Giant Cell Arteritis) is a relatively uncommon condition where the medium sized blood vessels around the head and scalp become inflamed. The temporal arteries, found on either side of the forehead, are particularly affected and often become very prominent.

Most people who get Temporal Arteritis (TA) are over the age of 55 and it is most common in the over 75's. Caucasians and women tend to be affected more often. The cause is not really known but it is thought to be some kind of autoimmune reaction where the body attacks its own blood vessels.

The inflamed blood vessels become narrowed, resulting in reduced blood flow, and it is this that gives rise to the classic symptoms of TA. These are - severe headache on one or both sides of the forehead, pain in the sides of the face made worse by chewing and scalp tenderness most apparent when brushing or combing the hair. There may be other symptoms too such as fever, weight loss and generally feeling unwell.

The inflammation can sometimes also affect the blood vessels to the optic nerve in the eye resulting in varying degrees of loss of vision that, if not treated quickly, can become permanent.

In order to confirm a diagnosis of TA certain tests may be performed. These include ESR or erythrocyte sedimentation rate (always very high) and a biopsy of the swollen temporal arteries.

Temporal Arteritis is initially treated with high doses of steroids and most symptoms start to improve within 24hrs. The dose of steroids is then gradually reduced to a maintenance dose that has to be continued for many years.

Sometimes TA is related to other rheumatological conditions, most commonly polymyalgia rheumatica, a condition affecting the shoulders and hip joints.