What is Temporal Arteritis

Temporal arteritis is a condition that causes arteries to become inflamed. It usually affects arteries in your head and face, but arteries in any part of the body can become inflamed. The condition is also called giant cell arteritis.

Temporal arteritis can cause serious problems such as blindness. Early treatment can help prevent these problems.

What are the causes?

The cause of this condition is not known.

What increases the risk?

The following factors may make you more likely to develop this condition:

• Being older than 50.
• Being a woman.
• Being Caucasian.
• Being of Danish, Swedish, Finnish, Norwegian, or Icelandic ancestry.
• Having a family history of the condition.
• Having a certain condition that causes muscle pain and stiffness (polymyalgia rheumatica, PMR).

What are the signs or symptoms?

Some people with temporal arteritis have just one symptom, while others have several symptoms. Most symptoms are related to the head and face. These may include:

• Headache.
• Hard or swollen temples. This is common. Your temples are the areas on either side of your forehead. If your temples are swollen, it may hurt to touch them.
• Pain when combing your hair or when laying your head down.
• Pain in the jaw when chewing.
• Pain in the throat or tongue.
• Problems with your vision, such as sudden loss of vision in one eye, or seeing double.

Other symptoms may include:

• Fever.
• Tiredness (fatigue).
• A dry cough.
• Pain in the hips and shoulders.
• Pain in the arms during exercise.
• Depression.
• Weight loss.

How is this diagnosed?

This condition may be diagnosed based on:

• Your symptoms.
• Your medical history.
• A physical exam.
• Tests, including:
  • Blood tests.
  • A test in which a tissue sample is removed from an artery so it can be examined (biopsy).
  • Imaging tests, such as an ultrasound or MRI.

How is this treated?

This condition may be treated with:

• A type of medicine to reduce inflammation (corticosteroid).
• Medicines to weaken your immune system (immunosuppressants).
• Other medicines to treat vision problems.

You will need to see your health care provider while you are being treated. The medicines used to treat this condition can increase your risk of problems such as bone loss and diabetes. During follow-up visits, your health care provider will check for problems by:

• Doing blood tests and bone density tests.
• Checking your blood pressure and blood sugar.

Follow these instructions at home:

Medicines

• Take over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your health care provider.
• Take any vitamins or supplements recommended by your health care provider. These may include vitamin D and calcium, which help keep your bones from becoming weak.

Eating and drinking

• Eat a heart-healthy diet. This may include:
  • Eating high-fiber foods, such as fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and beans.
  • Eating heart-healthy fats (omega-3 fats), such as fish, flaxseed, and flaxseed oil.
  • Limiting foods that are high in saturated fat and cholesterol, such as processed and fried foods, fatty meat, and full-fat dairy.
  • Limiting how much salt (sodium) you eat.
• Include calcium and vitamin D in your diet. Good sources of calcium and vitamin D include:
  • Low-fat dairy products such as milk, yogurt, and cheese.
  • Certain fish, such as fresh or canned salmon, tuna, and sardines.
  • Products that have calcium and vitamin D added to them (fortified products), such as fortified cereals or juice.

General instructions

• Exercise. Talk with your health care provider about what exercises are okay for you. Exercises that increase your heart rate (aerobic exercise), such as walking, are often recommended. Aerobic exercise helps control your blood pressure and prevent bone loss.
• Stay up to date on all vaccines as directed by your health care provider.
• Keep all follow-up visits as told by your health care provider. This is important.

Contact a health care provider if:

• Your symptoms get worse.
• You develop signs of infection, such as fever, swelling, redness, warmth, and tenderness.

Get help right away if:

• You lose your vision.
• Your pain does not go away, even after you take medicine.
• You have chest pain.
• You have trouble breathing.
• One side of your face or body suddenly becomes weak or numb.

These symptoms may represent a serious problem that is an emergency. Do not wait to see if the symptoms will go away. Get medical help right away. Call your local emergency services (911 in the U.S.). Do not drive yourself to the hospital.

Summary

• Temporal arteritis is a condition that causes arteries to become inflamed. It usually affects arteries in your head and face.
• This condition can cause serious problems, such as blindness. Treatment can help prevent these problems.
• Symptoms may include hard or tender temples, pain in your jaw when chewing, problems with your vision, or pain in your hips and shoulders.
• Take over-the-counter and prescription medicines as told by your health care provider.