what is giant cell arteritis?

Question

It was caused by a bite from an insect thought it was a tick

Answer 1

Giant cell arteritis is an inflammatory condition that involves the body's immune and inflammatory system attacking the wall and lining of arteries. The inflammation can involve lymphocytes, neutrophils, eosinophils and multinucleated giant cells, thus the name. The inflammatory lesion resembles something called a granuloma and the kind of inflammation is often called granulomatous inflammation. It may look like something caused by infection with tuberculosis or caused by inclusion of a foreign body, like the mouth parts of a tick, but giant cell arteritis typically has no virus, bacterium or foreign material in it. A tick bite can cause a granuloma but it is not likely to be associated with the wall of an artery.

Giant cell arteritis can involve the temporal artery, in which case it might be called temporal arteritis. Since the temporal arteries supply oxygenated blood to the eyes, damage to this vessel caused by the inflammation can result in partial or complete blindness.

Although there's no cure for giant cell arteritis, immediate treatment with corticosteroid medications usually relieves symptoms and prevents loss of vision.

I hope this helps

Answer 2

Temporal arteritis, also called giant cell arteritis (GCA) is an inflammatory disease of blood vessels (most commonly large and medium arteries of the head). It is therefore a form of vasculitis. The name comes from the most frequently involved vessel (temporal artery which branches from the external carotid artery of the neck). The alternative name (giant cell arteritis) reflects the type of inflammatory cell that is involved (as seen on biopsy).

The disorder may coexist (in one quarter of cases) with polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR), which is characterized by sudden onset of pain and stiffness in muscles (pelvis, shoulder) of the body and seen in the elderly. Other diseases related with temporal arteritis are systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis and severe infections.


It is more common in females and after 50 years of age. Below this age it is extremely rare.

Patients present with:

fever
headache
tenderness and sensitivity on the scalp
jaw claudication
reduced visual acuity (blurred vision)
acute visual loss (sudden blindness)
The inflammation may affect blood supply to the eye and blurred vision or sudden blindness may occur. In 76% of cases involving the eye the ophthalmic artery is involved causing anterior ischemic optic neuropathy. Loss of vision in both eyes may occur very abruptly and this disease is therefore a medical emergency.

Answer 3

If you break the last work down itis means inflammation and arter is like a blood vessel. So it is an inflammation of a vessel. Giant cell is the location of the inflammed area.

Answer 4

Strangely, quite a lot of people who suffer from Polymyalgia Rheumatica go on to develop GCA. A trigger could well be disfunctional immune response at cellular level - in your case an over-reactive response to an insect bite (if this is indeed the source). If this is the case, then there is a relatively new science which can repair and maintain immune function at the cellular level.

Certainly, inflammatory issues can be approached through this method - I see little reason why inflamation of blood vessel walls cannot be addressed this way.

I am happy to discuss this further with you, and I can refer you to a colleague of mine who is more of an authority on this subject. Please feel free to contact me if you wish.

Good luck.

Answer 5

A disease occuring in northern longitudes involving large arteries of upper body and neck including ciliary arteries. Biopsy shows a granulomatous arteritis of the external carotid artery.

Answer 6

From what i've just read on the web it is inflammation of the blood vessels in thr eye and can be easily treated, so i suggest you go to your GP asap. Good luck

Answer 7

It's a blood vessel disorder where the lining of your arteries gets inflamed.

Answer 8

Please see the webpages for more details on Giant cell arteritis (Temporal arteritis).

Answer 9

sorry i have no idea.