Giant Cell Arteritis (GCA) / Temporal Arteritis - Treatment and Complications

Treatment and Complications

• The patient is treated using antiinflammatory drugs from the group corticosteroids. Prednisone given orally is usually effective. Injectable corticosteroid in the form of methylprednisone may be used in patients likely to suffer from eye damage. The dose of the corticosteroid should be tapered once control of the disease symptoms is achieved. Treatment may take 1 to 2 years
• Methotrexate may be added in patients responding inadequately to corticosteroids, though its benefit has not been proved in temporal arteritis as yet

• Inflammation of the arteries supplying to the eye could lead to lack of blood supply to the eyes followed by blindness.
• Rarely, the patient may suffer from stroke due to lack of blood supply to the brain
• The patients are also at an increased risk of developing aortic aneurysm (abnormal dilatation of the aortic artery that could lead to severe bleeding and death)
• Corticosteroids, if used for a long time in treatment of temporal arteritis, could cause complications like diabetes, osteoporosis (which can be prevented by taking calcium with vitamin D), high blood pressure, muscle weakness, increase in eye pressure, cataract, and delayed healing. A healthy diet and regular exercise could help to prevent some of these complications