Vessels affected in Giant Cell Arteritis

Vessels affected in Giant Cell Arteritis

Which vessels may be affected in Giant Cell Arteritis?

Although cranial involvement is the most frequently recognized and characteristic anatomic location for GCA, the process is a generalized vascular disease of any medium- or large-sized vessel. Extracranial GCA usually involves the aorta and its major branches (especially left subclavian artery) and is clinically evident in 15%–20% of patients. Positron emission tomography (PET) scans show subclinical aortic inflammation in 50%–80% patients. Intracranial vessels are not involved because they lack an internal elastic lamina and vasa vasorum after entering the skull.

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