gigantcellearteritt
Gigantcellearteritt (giant cell arteritis, GCA), also known as temporal arteritis, is an inflammatory disease of large- and medium-sized arteries. It most commonly affects branches of the carotid artery, including the superficial temporal artery, and can involve the aorta and its major branches. The condition is characterized by granulomatous inflammation with multinucleated giant cells in the arterial wall.
GCA primarily occurs in people over 50 years of age and is more common in women. Typical
Diagnosis is based on clinical features, elevated inflammatory markers (erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein), imaging
Immediate high-dose glucocorticoid therapy is the mainstay of treatment to prevent ischemic complications. Tocilizumab, an interleukin-6