GCA Flashcards
1
Q
What is giant cell arthiritis?
A
GCA is a large-vessel vasculitis. It often coexists with Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR - a non-vasculitic illness).
2
Q
What artery is most commonly involved in GCA?
A
The carotid artery and its branches
3
Q
What age group does Giant Cell Arteritis most commonly effect?
A
People over the age of 60
4
Q
What is the onset of GCA like?
A
It can be sudden and abrupt and often occurs overnight.
5
Q
What are the risk factors for GCA?
A
- Polymyalgia Rheumatica
- FHx
- Age - >55
6
Q
What are the signs of GCA?
A
Temporal artery tenderness and swelling with loss of pulsation
7
Q
What are the symptoms of GCA?
A
- Abrupt onset headache, usually unilateral in temporal area
- Scalp tenderness from skin ischaemia.
- Pain on chewing food (jaw claudication from masseter muscle ischaemia).
- Visual change – optic artery ischaemia, which may be preceded by transient change, such as amaurosis fugax - - - Temporary loss of vision, patient describes loss of vision as if a curtain is being pulled down, vision returns the same way as if a curtain is being raised).
8
Q
What investigations would be done in GCA?
A
- A temporal biopsy should be done urgently, but note the arteritis is patchy and, if a ‘skip lesion’ is biopsied, histology will be normal.
- ESR may be raised but a normal ESR does not exclude GCA.
9
Q
What is the pharmacological treatment for GCA?
A
- Prednisolone PO immediately
Or - IV methylprednisolone if visual loss is already occurring or have had amaurosis fugax
