U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Format

Send to:

Choose Destination

Giant cell arteritis(GCA)

MedGen UID:
21478
•Concept ID:
C0039483
•
Disease or Syndrome
Synonyms: Arteritides, Giant Cell; Arteritis, Giant Cell; Arteritis, Giant Cell, Horton; Arteritis, Giant Cell, Horton's; Giant Cell Arteritides; Giant Cell Arteritis; Giant Cell Arteritis, Horton; Horton Disease; Horton Giant Cell Arteritis; Horton's Disease; Horton's Giant Cell Arteritis; Hortons Disease
SNOMED CT: Horton's disease (400130008); Giant cell arteritis (400130008)
 
OMIM®: 187360

Definition

A systemic autoimmune disorder that typically affects medium and large ARTERIES, usually leading to occlusive granulomatous vasculitis with transmural infiltrate containing multinucleated GIANT CELLS. The TEMPORAL ARTERY is commonly involved. This disorder appears primarily in people over the age of 50. Symptoms include FEVER; FATIGUE; HEADACHE; visual impairment; pain in the jaw and tongue; and aggravation of pain by cold temperatures. (From Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed) [from MeSH]

Term Hierarchy

CClinical test,  RResearch test,  OOMIM,  GGeneReviews,  VClinVar  
  • CROGVGiant cell arteritis

Professional guidelines

PubMed

Treatment Guidelines in Vasculitis.
Kermani TA, Warrington KJ, Dua AB
Rheum Dis Clin North Am 2022 Aug;48(3):705-724. Epub 2022 Jul 5 doi: 10.1016/j.rdc.2022.03.006. PMID: 35953232
2021 American College of Rheumatology/Vasculitis Foundation Guideline for the Management of Giant Cell Arteritis and Takayasu Arteritis.
Maz M, Chung SA, Abril A, Langford CA, Gorelik M, Guyatt G, Archer AM, Conn DL, Full KA, Grayson PC, Ibarra MF, Imundo LF, Kim S, Merkel PA, Rhee RL, Seo P, Stone JH, Sule S, Sundel RP, Vitobaldi OI, Warner A, Byram K, Dua AB, Husainat N, James KE, Kalot MA, Lin YC, Springer JM, Turgunbaev M, Villa-Forte A, Turner AS, Mustafa RA
Arthritis Rheumatol 2021 Aug;73(8):1349-1365. Epub 2021 Jul 8 doi: 10.1002/art.41774. PMID: 34235884
Giant Cell Arteritis (GCA): Pathogenesis, Clinical Aspects and Treatment Approaches.
Ciofalo A, Gulotta G, Iannella G, Pasquariello B, Manno A, Angeletti D, Pace A, Greco A, Altissimi G, de Vincentiis M, Magliulo G
Curr Rheumatol Rev 2019;15(4):259-268. doi: 10.2174/1573397115666190227194014. PMID: 30827250

Recent clinical studies

Etiology

Vasculitis: When to Consider this Diagnosis?
Mishra K, Ramcharitar RK, Sharma AM
Med Clin North Am 2023 Sep;107(5):845-859. Epub 2023 Jun 17 doi: 10.1016/j.mcna.2023.05.005. PMID: 37541712
Temporal artery biopsy: A technical guide and review of its importance and indications.
Parreau S, Liozon E, Chen JJ, Curumthaullee MF, Fauchais AL, Warrington KJ, Ly KH, Weyand CM
Surv Ophthalmol 2023 Jan-Feb;68(1):104-112. Epub 2022 Aug 20 doi: 10.1016/j.survophthal.2022.08.008. PMID: 35995251Free PMC Article
Pathogenesis, Diagnosis and Management of Polymyalgia Rheumatica.
Camellino D, Giusti A, Girasole G, Bianchi G, Dejaco C
Drugs Aging 2019 Nov;36(11):1015-1026. doi: 10.1007/s40266-019-00705-5. PMID: 31493201
Ophthalmologic manifestations of systemic vasculitis.
Papaliodis GN
Curr Opin Ophthalmol 2017 Nov;28(6):613-616. doi: 10.1097/ICU.0000000000000422. PMID: 28817388
Evidence-based neuro-ophthalmology: advances in treatment.
Balcer LJ
Curr Opin Ophthalmol 2001 Dec;12(6):387-92. doi: 10.1097/00055735-200112000-00002. PMID: 11734677

Diagnosis

Vasculitis: When to Consider this Diagnosis?
Mishra K, Ramcharitar RK, Sharma AM
Med Clin North Am 2023 Sep;107(5):845-859. Epub 2023 Jun 17 doi: 10.1016/j.mcna.2023.05.005. PMID: 37541712
Giant cell arteritis.
Pepper K
Postgrad Med 2023 Jan;135(sup1):22-32. Epub 2023 Apr 6 doi: 10.1080/00325481.2023.2190288. PMID: 37021621
Giant Cell Arteritis.
Younger DS
Neurol Clin 2019 May;37(2):335-344. Epub 2019 Mar 16 doi: 10.1016/j.ncl.2019.01.008. PMID: 30952412
Giant Cell Arteritis (GCA): Pathogenesis, Clinical Aspects and Treatment Approaches.
Ciofalo A, Gulotta G, Iannella G, Pasquariello B, Manno A, Angeletti D, Pace A, Greco A, Altissimi G, de Vincentiis M, Magliulo G
Curr Rheumatol Rev 2019;15(4):259-268. doi: 10.2174/1573397115666190227194014. PMID: 30827250
Scalp necrosis.
Rosales-Castillo A, García-Sánchez A, Sabio JM
Med Clin (Barc) 2017 Jun 7;148(11):e61. Epub 2016 Sep 17 doi: 10.1016/j.medcli.2016.07.023. PMID: 27650211

Therapy

Biological therapy in polymyalgia rheumatica.
Wendling D
Expert Opin Biol Ther 2023 Jul-Dec;23(12):1255-1263. Epub 2023 Dec 28 doi: 10.1080/14712598.2023.2287097. PMID: 37994867
The Future of Vasculitis: A Manifesto.
Monach PA
Rheum Dis Clin North Am 2023 Aug;49(3):713-729. Epub 2023 Apr 15 doi: 10.1016/j.rdc.2023.03.014. PMID: 37331742
Giant cell arteritis.
Pepper K
Postgrad Med 2023 Jan;135(sup1):22-32. Epub 2023 Apr 6 doi: 10.1080/00325481.2023.2190288. PMID: 37021621
Giant Cell Arteritis (GCA): Pathogenesis, Clinical Aspects and Treatment Approaches.
Ciofalo A, Gulotta G, Iannella G, Pasquariello B, Manno A, Angeletti D, Pace A, Greco A, Altissimi G, de Vincentiis M, Magliulo G
Curr Rheumatol Rev 2019;15(4):259-268. doi: 10.2174/1573397115666190227194014. PMID: 30827250
Thrombosis in vasculitis.
Gaffo AL
Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol 2013 Feb;27(1):57-67. doi: 10.1016/j.berh.2012.12.005. PMID: 23507057

Prognosis

Polymyalgia rheumatica.
Rosenberg H, Halman S, Yadav K
CMAJ 2021 Nov 22;193(46):E1770. doi: 10.1503/cmaj.210541. PMID: 34810164Free PMC Article
Vasculitis in New Zealand.
de Zoysa JR
Clin Exp Nephrol 2013 Oct;17(5):712-714. Epub 2012 Nov 23 doi: 10.1007/s10157-012-0703-6. PMID: 23180039
Not just for men.
Prat NM, Sánchez-Dalmau BF, Foroozan R
Surv Ophthalmol 2011 Mar-Apr;56(2):173-7. Epub 2010 Oct 30 doi: 10.1016/j.survophthal.2010.06.001. PMID: 21035828
Secondary headaches in the elderly.
Tanganelli P
Neurol Sci 2010 Jun;31 Suppl 1:S73-6. doi: 10.1007/s10072-010-0277-6. PMID: 20464588
Ischemic optic neuropathy.
DelMonte DW, Bhatti MT
Int Ophthalmol Clin 2009 Summer;49(3):35-62. doi: 10.1097/IIO.0b013e3181a8df6c. PMID: 19584621

Clinical prediction guides

Imaging Challenges and Developments in Large-vessel Vasculitis.
Matza MA, Arevalo AB, Unizony S
Rheum Dis Clin North Am 2024 Nov;50(4):603-621. Epub 2024 Sep 2 doi: 10.1016/j.rdc.2024.07.003. PMID: 39415370
The Future of Vasculitis: A Manifesto.
Monach PA
Rheum Dis Clin North Am 2023 Aug;49(3):713-729. Epub 2023 Apr 15 doi: 10.1016/j.rdc.2023.03.014. PMID: 37331742
2022 American College of Rheumatology/EULAR classification criteria for giant cell arteritis.
Ponte C, Grayson PC, Robson JC, Suppiah R, Gribbons KB, Judge A, Craven A, Khalid S, Hutchings A, Watts RA, Merkel PA, Luqmani RA; DCVAS Study Group
Ann Rheum Dis 2022 Dec;81(12):1647-1653. Epub 2022 Nov 9 doi: 10.1136/ard-2022-223480. PMID: 36351706
An update on polymyalgia rheumatica.
Lundberg IE, Sharma A, Turesson C, Mohammad AJ
J Intern Med 2022 Nov;292(5):717-732. Epub 2022 Jun 11 doi: 10.1111/joim.13525. PMID: 35612524Free PMC Article
Giant Cell Arteritis.
Younger DS
Neurol Clin 2019 May;37(2):335-344. Epub 2019 Mar 16 doi: 10.1016/j.ncl.2019.01.008. PMID: 30952412

Recent systematic reviews

2021 American College of Rheumatology/Vasculitis Foundation Guideline for the Management of Giant Cell Arteritis and Takayasu Arteritis.
Maz M, Chung SA, Abril A, Langford CA, Gorelik M, Guyatt G, Archer AM, Conn DL, Full KA, Grayson PC, Ibarra MF, Imundo LF, Kim S, Merkel PA, Rhee RL, Seo P, Stone JH, Sule S, Sundel RP, Vitobaldi OI, Warner A, Byram K, Dua AB, Husainat N, James KE, Kalot MA, Lin YC, Springer JM, Turgunbaev M, Villa-Forte A, Turner AS, Mustafa RA
Arthritis Rheumatol 2021 Aug;73(8):1349-1365. Epub 2021 Jul 8 doi: 10.1002/art.41774. PMID: 34235884
Vasculitis therapy refines vasculitis mechanistic classification.
Torp CK, Brüner M, Keller KK, Brouwer E, Hauge EM, McGonagle D, Kragstrup TW
Autoimmun Rev 2021 Jun;20(6):102829. Epub 2021 Apr 16 doi: 10.1016/j.autrev.2021.102829. PMID: 33872767
EULAR recommendations for the use of imaging in large vessel vasculitis in clinical practice.
Dejaco C, Ramiro S, Duftner C, Besson FL, Bley TA, Blockmans D, Brouwer E, Cimmino MA, Clark E, Dasgupta B, Diamantopoulos AP, Direskeneli H, Iagnocco A, Klink T, Neill L, Ponte C, Salvarani C, Slart RHJA, Whitlock M, Schmidt WA
Ann Rheum Dis 2018 May;77(5):636-643. Epub 2018 Jan 22 doi: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2017-212649. PMID: 29358285
Anti-endothelial cell antibodies in vasculitis: A systematic review.
Legendre P, Régent A, Thiebault M, Mouthon L
Autoimmun Rev 2017 Feb;16(2):146-153. Epub 2016 Dec 15 doi: 10.1016/j.autrev.2016.12.012. PMID: 27989761
Biologic therapy in ANCA-negative vasculitis.
Loricera J, Blanco R, Hernández JL, Pina T, González-Vela MC, González-Gay MA
Int Immunopharmacol 2015 Aug;27(2):213-9. Epub 2015 Mar 28 doi: 10.1016/j.intimp.2015.03.020. PMID: 25828585

Supplemental Content

Table of contents

    Practice guidelines

    • PubMed
      See practice and clinical guidelines in PubMed. The search results may include broader topics and may not capture all published guidelines. See the FAQ for details.
    • Bookshelf
      See practice and clinical guidelines in NCBI Bookshelf. The search results may include broader topics and may not capture all published guidelines. See the FAQ for details.

    Related information

    • MeSH
      Related Medical Subject Headings
    • OMIM
      Related records in OMIM
    • PMC Articles
      Related information in PubMed Central Links
    • PubMed
      Related literature resources in PubMed
    • PubMed (OMIM)
      Related literature resources in PubMed

    Recent activity

    Clear Turn Off Turn On

    Your browsing activity is empty.

    Activity recording is turned off.

    Turn recording back on

    See more...