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HandWiki. Giant-Cell Arteritis. Encyclopedia. Available online: https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/32019 (accessed on 27 July 2024).
HandWiki. Giant-Cell Arteritis. Encyclopedia. Available at: https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/32019. Accessed July 27, 2024.
HandWiki. "Giant-Cell Arteritis" Encyclopedia, https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/32019 (accessed July 27, 2024).
HandWiki. (2022, October 31). Giant-Cell Arteritis. In Encyclopedia. https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/32019
HandWiki. "Giant-Cell Arteritis." Encyclopedia. Web. 31 October, 2022.
Giant-Cell Arteritis
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The content is sourced from: https://handwiki.org/wiki/Medicine:Giant-cell_arteritis

Giant-cell arteritis (GCA), also called temporal arteritis, is an inflammatory disease of large blood vessels. Symptoms may include headache, pain over the temples, flu-like symptoms, double vision, and difficulty opening the mouth. Complication can include blockage of the artery to the eye with resulting blindness, aortic dissection, and aortic aneurysm. GCA is frequently associated with polymyalgia rheumatica. The cause is unknown. The underlying mechanism involves inflammation of the small blood vessels that occur within the walls of larger arteries. This mainly affects arteries around the head and neck, though some in the chest may also be affected. Diagnosis is suspected based on symptoms, blood tests, and medical imaging, and confirmed by biopsy of the temporal artery. However, in about 10% of people the temporal artery is normal. Treatment is typically with high doses of steroids such as prednisone or prednisolone. Once symptoms have resolved the dose is then decreased by about 15% per month. Once a low dose is reached, the taper is slowed further over the subsequent year. Other medications that may be recommended include bisphosphonates to prevent bone loss and a proton pump inhibitor to prevent stomach problems. It affects about 1 in 15,000 people over the age of 50 per year. The condition typically only occurs in those over the age of 50, being most common among those in their 70s. Females are more often affected than males. Those of northern European descent are more commonly affected. Life expectancy is typically normal. The first description of the condition occurred in 1890.

temporal artery polymyalgia inflammation

1. Signs and Symptoms

Common symptoms of giant-cell arteritis include:

  • bruits
  • fever
  • headache[1]
  • tenderness and sensitivity on the scalp
  • jaw claudication (pain in jaw when chewing)
  • tongue claudication (pain in tongue when chewing) and necrosis[2][3]
  • reduced visual acuity (blurred vision)
  • acute visual loss (sudden blindness)
  • diplopia (double vision)
  • acute tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
  • polymyalgia rheumatica (in 50%)[4]

The inflammation may affect blood supply to the eye; 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.[5]

Giant-cell arteritis may present with atypical or overlapping features.[6] Early and accurate diagnosis is important to prevent ischemic vision loss. Therefore, this condition is considered a medical emergency.[6]

While studies vary as to the exact relapse rate of giant cell arteritis, relapse of this condition can occur.[7] It most often happens at low doses of prednisone (<20 mg/day), during the first year of treatment, and the most common signs of relapse are headache and polymyalgia rheumatica.[7]

1.1. Associated Conditions

The varicella-zoster virus (VZV) antigen was found in 74% of temporal artery biopsies that were GCA-positive, suggesting that the VZV infection may trigger the inflammatory cascade.[8]

The disorder may co-exist (in about half of cases) with polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR),[4] which is characterized by sudden onset of pain and stiffness in muscles (pelvis, shoulder) of the body and is seen in the elderly. GCA and PMR are so closely linked that they are often considered to be different manifestations of the same disease process. PMR usually lacks the cranial symptoms, including headache, pain in the jaw while chewing, and vision symptoms, that are present in GCA.[9]

Giant-cell arteritis can affect the aorta and lead to aortic aneurysm and aortic dissection.[10] Up to 67% of people with GCA having evidence of an inflamed aorta, which can increase the risk of aortic aneurysm and dissection.[10] There are arguments for the routine screening of each person with GCA for this possible life-threatening complication by imaging the aorta. Screening should be done on a case-by-case basis based on the signs and symptoms of people with GCA.[10]

2. Mechanism

The pathological mechanism is the result of an inflammatory cascade that is triggered by an as of yet determined cause resulting in dendritic cells in the vessel wall recruiting T cells and macrophages to form granulomatous infiltrates.[10] These infiltrates erode the middle and inner layers of the arterial tunica media leading to conditions such as aneurysm and dissection.[10] Activation of T helper 17 (Th17) cells involved with interleukin (IL) 6, IL-17, IL-21 and IL-23 play a critical part; specifically, Th17 activation leads to further activation of Th17 through IL-6 in a continuous, cyclic fashion.[10] This pathway is suppressed with glucocorticoids,[11] and more recently it has been found that IL-6 inhibitors also play a suppressive role.[10]

3. Diagnosis

3.1. Physical Exam

  • Palpation of the head reveals prominent temporal arteries with or without pulsation.
  • The temporal area may be tender.
  • Decreased pulses may be found throughout the body
  • Evidence of ischemia may be noted on fundal exam.
  • Bruits may be heard over the subclavian and axillary arteries

3.2. Laboratory Tests

  • LFTs, liver function tests, are abnormal particularly raised ALP- alkaline phosphatase
  • Erythrocyte sedimentation rate, an inflammatory marker, >60 mm/hour (normal 1–40 mm/hour).
  • C-reactive protein, another inflammatory marker, may be elevated.
  • Platelets may also be elevated.

3.3. Biopsy

Histopathology of giant cell vasculitis in a cerebral artery. Elastica-stain. https://handwiki.org/wiki/index.php?curid=1188723

The gold standard for diagnosing temporal arteritis is biopsy, which involves removing a small part of the vessel under local anesthesia and examining it microscopically for giant cells infiltrating the tissue.[12] However, a negative result does not definitively rule out the diagnosis; since the blood vessels are involved in a patchy pattern, there may be unaffected areas on the vessel and the biopsy might have been taken from these parts. Unilateral biopsy of a 1.5–3 cm length is 85-90% sensitive (1 cm is the minimum).[13] A Characterised as intimal hyperplasia and medial granulomatous inflammation with elastic lamina fragmentation with a CD 4+ predominant T cell infiltrate, currently biopsy is only considered confirmatory for the clinical diagnosis, or one of the diagnostic criteria.[3]

3.4. Medical Imaging

Radiological examination of the temporal artery with ultrasound yields a halo sign. Contrast-enhanced brain MRI and CT is generally negative in this disorder. Recent studies have shown that 3T MRI using super high resolution imaging and contrast injection can non-invasively diagnose this disorder with high specificity and sensitivity.[14]

4. Treatment

GCA is considered a medical emergency due to the potential of irreversible vision loss.[6] Corticosteroids, typically high-dose prednisone (1 mg/kg/day), should be started as soon as the diagnosis is suspected (even before the diagnosis is confirmed by biopsy) to prevent irreversible blindness secondary to ophthalmic artery occlusion. Steroids do not prevent the diagnosis from later being confirmed by biopsy, although certain changes in the histology may be observed towards the end of the first week of treatment and are more difficult to identify after a couple of months.[15] The dose of prednisone is lowered after 2–4 weeks, and slowly tapered over 9–12 months. Tapering may require two or more years. Oral steroids are at least as effective as intravenous steroids,[16] except in the treatment of acute visual loss where intravenous steroids appear to offer significant benefit over oral steroids.[17] Short-term side effects of prednisone are uncommon but can include mood changes, avascular necrosis, and an increased risk of infection.[18] Some of the side effects associated with long-term use include weight gain, diabetes mellitus, osteoporosis, avascular necrosis, glaucoma, cataracts, cardiovascular disease, and an increased risk of infection.[19][20] It is unclear if adding a small amount of aspirin is beneficial or not as it has not been studied.[21] Injections of tocilizumab may also be used.[22] Tocilizumab is a humanized antibody that targets the interleukin-6 receptor, which is a key cytokine involved in the progression of GCA.[23] Tocilizumab has been found to be effective at minimizing both recurrence, and flares of GCA when used both on its own and with corticosteroids.[23] Long term use of tocilizumab requires further investigation.[23][24] Tocilizumab may increase the risk of gastrointestinal perforation and infections, however it does not appear that there are more risks than using corticosteroids.[23][24]

5. Epidemiology

It is more common in women than in men, by a ratio of 2:1,[25] and more common in those of Northern European descent, as well as in those residing further from the Equator.[26] The mean age of onset is >55 years; it may be rarer in those younger than 55 years of age.[25]

6. Terminology

The terms "giant-cell arteritis" and "temporal arteritis" are sometimes used interchangeably, because of the frequent involvement of the temporal artery. However, other large vessels such as the aorta can be involved.[27] Giant-cell arteritis is also known as "cranial arteritis" and "Horton's disease."[28] The name (giant-cell arteritis) reflects the type of inflammatory cell involved.[29]

References

  1. "Suspected giant cell arteritis: a study of referrals for temporal artery biopsy". Canadian Journal of Ophthalmology. Journal Canadien d'Ophtalmologie 43 (4): 445–8. August 2008. doi:10.3129/i08-070. PMID 18711459.  https://dx.doi.org/10.3129%2Fi08-070
  2. "Acute bilateral tongue necrosis--a case report". The British Journal of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery 46 (8): 671–2. December 2008. doi:10.1016/j.bjoms.2008.03.027. PMID 18499311.  https://dx.doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.bjoms.2008.03.027
  3. "A 78-year-old woman with bilateral tongue necrosis". Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology, Oral Radiology, and Endodontics 111 (1): 15–9. January 2011. doi:10.1016/j.tripleo.2010.09.001. PMID 21176820.  https://dx.doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.tripleo.2010.09.001
  4. Hunder, Gene G. "Polymyalgia rheumatica and giant cell (temporal) arteritis". Wolters Kluwer. http://www.uptodate.com/contents/polymyalgia-rheumatica-and-giant-cell-temporal-arteritis-beyond-the-basics?view=print. 
  5. Hayreh (April 3, 2003). "Ocular Manifestations of GCA". University of Iowa Health Care. http://webeye.ophth.uiowa.edu/dept/GCA/04-ocular.htm. 
  6. "Giant cell arteritis or tension-type headache?: A differential diagnostic dilemma". Journal of Neurosciences in Rural Practice 5 (4): 409–11. October 2014. doi:10.4103/0976-3147.140005. PMID 25288850.  http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pmcentrez&artid=4173245
  7. "UpToDate". https://www.uptodate.com/contents/treatment-of-giant-cell-arteritis?source=history_widget#references. 
  8. "Prevalence and distribution of VZV in temporal arteries of patients with giant cell arteritis". Neurology 84 (19): 1948–55. May 2015. doi:10.1212/WNL.0000000000001409. PMID 25695965.  http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pmcentrez&artid=4433460
  9. "Giant cell arteritis". https://bestpractice.bmj.com/topics/en-gb/177/differentials. 
  10. Chen, John; Warrington, Kenneth; Garrity, James; Prasad, Sashank (2017). "Is Routine Imaging of the Aorta Warranted in Patients With Giant Cell Arteritis?" (in ENGLISH). Journal of Neuro-ophthalmology 37 (3): 314–319. doi:10.1097/WNO.0000000000000538. ISSN 1070-8022. PMID 28614098. http://insights.ovid.com/. 
  11. Weyand, Cornelia M.; Goronzy, Jörg J. (2014-07-03). Solomon, Caren G.. ed. "Giant-Cell Arteritis and Polymyalgia Rheumatica". New England Journal of Medicine 371 (1): 50–57. doi:10.1056/NEJMcp1214825. ISSN 0028-4793. PMID 24988557.  http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pmcentrez&artid=4277693
  12. "Operative technique: Superficial temporal artery biopsy". Journal of Visceral Surgery 154 (3): 203–207. June 2017. doi:10.1016/j.jviscsurg.2017.05.001. PMID 28601496.  https://dx.doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.jviscsurg.2017.05.001
  13. "Importance of specimen length during temporal artery biopsy". The British Journal of Surgery 98 (11): 1556–60. November 2011. doi:10.1002/bjs.7595. PMID 21706476. https://semanticscholar.org/paper/3b3f996ca4f1f510f13a17d2675f1f9aa9841eda. 
  14. "Diagnostic value of high-resolution MR imaging in giant cell arteritis". AJNR. American Journal of Neuroradiology 28 (9): 1722–7. October 2007. doi:10.3174/ajnr.A0638. PMID 17885247.  https://dx.doi.org/10.3174%2Fajnr.A0638
  15. "Histological parameters helpful in recognising steroid-treated temporal arteritis: an analysis of 35 cases". The British Journal of Ophthalmology 91 (2): 204–9. February 2007. doi:10.1136/bjo.2006.101725. PMID 16987903.  http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pmcentrez&artid=1857614
  16. "BestBets: Steroids and Temporal Arteritis". http://www.bestbets.org/bets/bet.php?id=708. 
  17. "Steroid management in giant cell arteritis". The British Journal of Ophthalmology 85 (9): 1061–4. September 2001. doi:10.1136/bjo.85.9.1061. PMID 11520757.  http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pmcentrez&artid=1724128
  18. Richards, Robert N. (March 2008). "Side Effects of Short-Term Oral Corticosteroids". Journal of Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery 12 (2): 77–81. doi:10.2310/7750.2008.07029. ISSN 1203-4754. PMID 18346404.  https://dx.doi.org/10.2310%2F7750.2008.07029
  19. Youssef, Jameel; Novosad, Shannon A.; Winthrop, Kevin L. (2016). "Infection Risk and Safety of Corticosteroid Use". Rheumatic Disease Clinics of North America 42 (1): 157–176. doi:10.1016/j.rdc.2015.08.004. ISSN 0889-857X. PMID 26611557.  http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pmcentrez&artid=4751577
  20. Oray, Merih; Samra, Khawla Abu; Ebrahimiadib, Nazanin; Meese, Halea; Foster, C. Stephen (2016-04-02). "Long-term side effects of glucocorticoids". Expert Opinion on Drug Safety 15 (4): 457–465. doi:10.1517/14740338.2016.1140743. ISSN 1474-0338. PMID 26789102.  https://dx.doi.org/10.1517%2F14740338.2016.1140743
  21. "Aspirin as adjunctive treatment for giant cell arteritis". The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (8): CD010453. August 2014. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD010453.pub2. PMID 25087045.  https://dx.doi.org/10.1002%2F14651858.CD010453.pub2
  22. "Press Announcements - FDA approves first drug to specifically treat giant cell arteritis". https://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm559791.htm. 
  23. Mariano, Vincent J.; Frishman, William H. (2018). "Tocilizumab in Giant Cell Arteritis". Cardiology in Review 26 (6): 321–330. doi:10.1097/CRD.0000000000000204. ISSN 1061-5377. PMID 29570475.  https://dx.doi.org/10.1097%2FCRD.0000000000000204
  24. Rinden, T.; Miller, E.; Nasr, R. (2019-07-01). "Giant cell arteritis: An updated review of an old disease". Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine 86 (7): 465–472. doi:10.3949/ccjm.86a.18103. ISSN 0891-1150. PMID 31291180.  https://dx.doi.org/10.3949%2Fccjm.86a.18103
  25. "Clinical practice. Giant-cell arteritis and polymyalgia rheumatica". The New England Journal of Medicine 371 (1): 50–7. July 2014. doi:10.1056/NEJMcp1214825. PMID 24988557.  http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pmcentrez&artid=4277693
  26. Johnson, Richard J.; Feehally, John; Floege, Jurgen (2014). Comprehensive Clinical Nephrology E-Book. Elsevier Health Sciences. p. 300. ISBN 9780323242875. https://books.google.ca/books?id=xesLBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA300. 
  27. "[18F]FDG-PET of giant-cell aortitis". Rheumatology 44 (5): 690–1. May 2005. doi:10.1093/rheumatology/keh551. PMID 15728420.  https://dx.doi.org/10.1093%2Frheumatology%2Fkeh551
  28. James, William D; Elston, Dirk M; Berger, Timothy G; Andrews, George Clinton (2006). Andrews' Diseases of the Skin: clinical Dermatology. Saunders Elsevier. p. 840. ISBN 978-0-7216-2921-6. OCLC 663444979.  http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/663444979
  29. "giant cell arteritis" at Dorland's Medical Dictionary https://web.archive.org/web/20090628224336/http://www.mercksource.com/pp/us/cns/cns_hl_dorlands_split.jsp?pg=/ppdocs/us/common/dorlands/dorland/one/000008441.htm
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