Giant-cell Arteritis - Signs and Symptoms

Signs and Symptoms

It is more common in women than in men by a ratio of 2:1 and more common in whites than blacks. The mean age of onset is >55 years, and it is rare in those less than 55 years of age.

People present with:

• bruits
• fever
• headache
• tenderness and sensitivity on the scalp
• jaw claudication (pain in jaw when chewing)
• tongue claudication (pain in tongue when chewing) and necrosis
• reduced visual acuity (blurred vision)
• acute visual loss (sudden blindness)
• diplopia (double vision)
• acute tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
• polymyalgia rheumatica (in 50%)

The inflammation may affect blood supply to the eye and blurred vision or sudden blindness may occur. In 76% of cases involving the eye, the ophthalmic artery is involved causing arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy. Loss of vision in both eyes may occur very abruptly and this disease is therefore a medical emergency.