Giant Cell Arteritis

Overview

Giant cell arteritis, also called temporal arteritis, is an inflammatory disease affecting mainly large vessels, especially those of the head and neck. Symptoms include headache, temporal pain, flu-like symptoms, double vision, and jaw claudication; complications include vision loss. It occurs almost exclusively in people over 50.

Symptoms

• Headache
• Temporal tenderness
• Visual disturbance
• Jaw claudication
• Fever

Treatment

Early, adequate corticosteroid therapy is used to prevent blindness, with gradual tapering to a maintenance dose once stable.

Dietary advice

A low-salt, low-sugar diet with calcium and vitamin D to prevent steroid-related side effects.