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Home :: Family Health :: Temporal Arteritis Temporal Arteritis - Temporal Arteritis symptom, treatment, causesTemporal Arteritis is an chronic inflammation and thickening in the walls of the temporal arteries, the large scalp arteries that passover the temples. This type of ARTERITIS is known as giant cell arteritis and can develop in any large arteries, but the temporal vessels are most often affected. The cause is unknown, but the disease seems to be related to POlYMYAlGIARHEUMATICA.a type of joint and muscle inflamma-tion with which it is sometimes associated. Temporal arteritis affects about I in every I000 people over the age of 50 - slightly more women than men. Temporal arteritis is a disorder involving inflammation and damage to blood vessels, particularly the large or medium arteries that branch from the external carotid artery of the neck. This disorder affects about 1 of 1,000 people older than 50 and slightly more women than men. Its cause is unknown. Temporal arteritis often occurs with polymyalgia rheumatica. It is therefore a form of vasculitis. The alternative name (giant cell arteritis) reflects the type of inflammatory cell that is involved (as seen on biopsy ). The disorder may coexist (in one quarter of cases) with polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR), which is characterized by sudden onset of pain and stiffness in muscles ( pelvis , shoulder ) of the body and seen in the elderly. It can come on suddenly, appearing over a week or two, and sometimes after a ' flu -like infection. Severe pain and stiffness occurs, initially in the mornings. It may be bad enough to stop you walking, getting out of bed or climbing stairs. On sitting for long periods, the stiffness makes getting up difficult. General unwellness and tiredness is also common, together with some loss of weight. The symptoms may gradually worsen over the weeks before a diagnosis is made. About one person in three with this condition goes on to develop the disorder named temporal arteritis. This is also an inlammation, but affects the medium sized arteries of the body. Commonly the artery over the temple (temporal artery) is affected: red, warm, swollen and tender to touch. Chewing may cause pain. Another frequently involved artery is that which supplies blood to the eye. This leads to blurred vision, or spots or light in front of the eyes blindness may rarely occur. Symptom of the Temporal ArteritisSymptoms are variable, depending on which arteries are affected. Most common are severe headache, temporal artery and scalp tenderness, visual disturbances, and pain in the jaw and tongue muscles on chewing. Non-specific symptoms include unexplained fever and weight loss, and paleness and weakness due to anaemia. Some common Symptoms of Temporal Arteritis :
Diagnosis and treament of the Temporal ArteritisIf temporal arteritis is suspected from the symptoms, the diagnosis can be confirmed by biopsy of the temporal artery. Treatment with CORTICOSTEROID DRUGS must be started early to prevent blindness caused by disturbed blood supply to the eyes. The response is usually good, and dosage can be reduced gradually over I to 2 years until all sighs of inflammation have subsided. If corticosteroids are unsuitable. IMMUNOSUPPRESSANT DRUGS may be used. Most patients can be weaned from treatment within 2 years. A few need small doses for longer.
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