vasculitis

Question 1

main type of vasculitis

Answer 1

giant cell arteritis

Question 2

what is vasculitis

Answer 2

group of diseases characterised by inflammation and necrosis of blood vessel walls

Question 3

what is giant cell arteritis and where does it affect

Answer 3

-granulomatous arteritis

predominantly affects the medium sized arteries head and neck

Question 4

what is gca assoc. too

Answer 4

polymyalgia rheumatica

Question 5

what is polymyalgia rheumatica

Answer 5

symmetrical muscle pain and stiffness affecting shoulder and pelvic girdle

• weight loss
• fatigue
• malaise
• night sweats

Question 6

age of onset gca

Answer 6

60

Question 7

f:m ratio gca

Answer 7

3:1

Question 8

symptoms gca

Answer 8

• headache (usually temporal unilateral)
• jaw claudication (pain over massseter muscles on chewing)
• tendeness or pain over scalp
• visual disturbances
• polymyalgia rheum
• difficulty rising from chair
• difficulty combing hair
• general malaise

Question 9

examination of gca

Answer 9

• unremarkable
• occasionally focal tenderness and thickening over temporal artery
• visual field defects or reduced visual acuity

Question 10

inx gca

Answer 10

temportal artery biopsy

raised esr and crp

Question 11

treatment gca

Answer 11

-steroids in flare with raised esr- prednisolone 40-60mg
-then reduce 10mg every 2 weeks
ALSO
- bone protect give bisphosphonates if >65 yrs or dexa

Question 12

inx pr

Answer 12

esr elevated

normochromic or normocytic anaemia

Question 13

management psr

Answer 13

prednisolone 15-20mg
reduce 2.5mg every month
ALSO
bone protect