Clinical manifestations of Giant cell arteritis

(NEJM 2014;371:50): constitutional sx: fevers, fatigue, wt loss

Temporal artery (TA)

→ headache, tender TAs and scalp, absent TA pulse

Ophthalmic artery (20%) →

optic neuropathy, diplopia, amaurosis fugax, blindness

Facial arteries

→ jaw claudication

Large vessel vasculitis

→ intermittent claudication of extremities; thoracic aorta aneurysm Strong association w/ PMR; ~50% of Pts w/ GCA ultimately received PMR diagnosis