Giant cell arteritis

• older patients

• relatively common

• focal granulomatous inflammation of small to medium cranial arteries, often temporal artery

• present with nodular temporal arteries and sometimes blindness

Histology

• no lumen

• granulomatous inflammation—giant cell is seen

• internal elastic lamina of the artery has been fragmented

Microscopy

• lesions are focal

• classic: giant cells and lymphocytes with fragmented internal elastic lamina

Clinical features

• symptoms may be vague—fever, fatigue

• facial pain or headache

• tender nodularities in temple

• worst: abrupt onset of blindness because of ophthalmic artery involvement

• rx with steroids

Pathogenesis

• not clear

• autoimmune, most likely T-cell-mediated

Category: Medical Subject Notes , Pathology Notes