5 Facts you should know about

Giant cell arteritis

GCA affects only older adults, with a peak incidence between ages 70 and 79

The most common symptoms of giant cell arteritis are head pain and tenderness — often severe — that usually affects both temples

Most of the clinical features of GCA result from vascular inflammation of the small extracranial branches of the carotid arteries

One of the most concerning potential complications of GCA is that of sight loss, which serves as the rationale for prompt initiation of glucocorticoids as soon as the diagnosis is suspected

GCA can overlap with polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) - at some point, 5 – 15% of patients with PMR will have a diagnosis of GCA

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