What is giant cell arteritis, and why does it matter?
Giant cell arteritis (GCA), also called temporal arteritis, is inflammation of blood vessels, often in the head. About one in ten people with PMR have or develop it, and it needs urgent treatment because it can cause stroke or blindness.
Because of the risk to sight, doctors start treatment before GCA is confirmed. It's treated with a higher steroid dose at first, then a lower dose over a longer time, sometimes several years.
Sources
- NHS: Polymyalgia rheumatica, overview
- NHS: Temporal arteritis (giant cell arteritis)
- Toyoda, Mackie, Yates et al.: The 2026 British Society for Rheumatology guideline for the treatment of polymyalgia rheumatica (Rheumatology 2026;65(10):keag502)
- US National Institutes of Health (NIAMS): Polymyalgia rheumatica and giant cell arteritis
- Arthritis UK (formerly Versus Arthritis): Giant cell arteritis (GCA)
- Mackie, Dejaco et al.: British Society for Rheumatology guideline on diagnosis and treatment of giant cell arteritis (Rheumatology 2020;59(3):e1-e23)
- American College of Rheumatology: Giant cell arteritis (patient fact sheet)
Reviewed 2026-11-09 · next review 2027-11-09