Manual

Giant cell arteritis

Emergencies

Giant cell arteritis

Arteritic AION — prevent fellow-eye blindness.

  • Age > 50: new headache, jaw claudication, scalp tenderness, PMR symptoms, weight loss, transient vision loss, diplopia.
  • Chalky-white disc edema (AAION), CRAO, cilioretinal artery occlusion.
Check ESR, CRP and platelets and START STEROIDS IMMEDIATELY on suspicion (IV methylprednisolone 1 g/day × 3 if vision loss, else prednisone 1 mg/kg). Temporal artery biopsy within 1–2 weeks.

Educational summary — follow local protocols and current guidelines.