Temporal arteritis

Introduction: Temporal arteritis

Temporal arteritis: Temporal arteritis (also called cranial or giant cell arteritis) is an inflammation of the temporal artery (which runs over the temple, ... more about Temporal arteritis.

Temporal arteritis: Inflamed head artery causing headache. More detailed information about the symptoms, causes, and treatments of Temporal arteritis is available below.

Symptoms of Temporal arteritis

• Local symptoms of inflamed temporary artery:
  • Headache
  • Throbbing headache
  • Temple pain
  • Swollen temporal arteries

See full list of 53 symptoms of Temporal arteritis

Home Diagnostic Testing

Home medical testing related to Temporal arteritis:

• High Blood Pressure: Home Testing
  • Home Blood Pressure Tests
  • Home Blood Pressure Monitors
  • Home Heart Tests
• Heart Health: Home Testing:
  • Heart Rate Monitors
  • Irregular Heartbeat Detection
  • Heart Electrocardiogram (ECG)
  • Home Cholesterol Tests

Medical Textbooks Online about Temporal arteritis

Book excerpts: Copyright © 2008 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.

Less Common Symptoms of Temporal arteritis

• Respiratory tract symptoms
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Hoarseness

Read more about symptoms of Temporal arteritis

Diagnostic Tests for Temporal arteritis

• Temporal artery biopsy
• See also tests for Polymyalgia rheumatica - many patients also have Polymyalgia rheumatica

Read more about tests for Temporal arteritis

Wrongly Diagnosed with Temporal arteritis?

• Misdiagnosis of Temporal arteritis

Misdiagnosis and Temporal arteritis

Heart attacks can be undiagnosed: Although the most severe symptoms of heart attack are hard to miss, there are varying degrees of severity. It is altogether too common for people to die from undiagnosed...read more »

Heart attacks can be overdiagnosed: Although many people die from heart attacks, there are also many cases where people fear that they have a...read more »

Rare heart condition often undiagnosed: The rare heart condition called long QT syndrome can lead to episodes of palpitations and rapid heartbeat. In rare cases, this undiagnosed condition can be fatal. It should be considered for any...read more »

Heart attack can be over-diagnosed: Although heart attack is often undiagnosed, leading to fatality, it can also be over-diagnosed. People become concerned that a condition is a heart attack, whereas there are various less dangerous...read more »

Blood pressure cuffs misdiagnose hypertension in children: One known misdiagnosis issue with hyperension, arises in relation to the simple equipment...read more »

Hypertension misdiagnosis common in children: Hypertension is often misdiagnosed in adults (see misdiagnosis of hypertension), but its misdiagnosis is even more likely in children....read more »

Read more about Misdiagnosis and Temporal arteritis

Causes of Temporal arteritis

Read more about causes of Temporal arteritis.

Treatments for Temporal arteritis

• Corticosteroids - typically over 1 or 2 years.
• Immunosuppressants
• See also treatments for Polymyalgia rheumatica - many patients also have Polymyalgia rheumatica

Read more about treatments for Temporal arteritis

Videos for Temporal arteritis

Patient Surveys for Temporal arteritis

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Prognosis for Temporal arteritis

Prognosis for Temporal arteritis: The prognosis for individuals with temporal arteritis is generally good. With treatment, most individuals achieve complete remission, however vision loss may be irreversible. (Source: excerpt from NINDS Vasculitis including Temporal Arteritis Information Page: NINDS) ... Most people with polymyalgia rheumatica and giant cell arteritis lead productive, active lives. The duration of drug treatment differs by patient. Once treatment is discontinued, polymyalgia may recur; but once again, symptoms respond rapidly to prednisone. When properly treated, giant cell arteritis rarely recurs. (Source: excerpt from Questions and Answers About Polymyalgia Rheumatica and Giant Cell Arteritis: NIAMS)

More about prognosis of Temporal arteritis

Reseach about Temporal arteritis

Visit our research pages for current research about Temporal arteritis treatments.

Clinical Trials for Temporal arteritis

The US based website ClinicalTrials.gov lists information on both federally and privately supported clinical trials using human volunteers.

Some of the clinical trials listed on ClinicalTrials.gov for Temporal arteritis include:

• Sensitivity and Specificity of Color Doppler Directed Temporal Artery Biopsy as Compared to Standard Random Biopsy in the Diagnosis of Temporal Arteritis - This study is currently recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006)
• Determining Disease Activity Biomarkers in Individuals With Giant Cell Arteritis - This study is currently recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006)
• Phase II Randomized Study of Glucocorticoids With or Without Methotrexate for Treatment of Giant Cell Arteritis - This study is no longer recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - methotrexate,prednisone
• Autologous Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation in Patients With Life Threatening Autoimmune Diseases - This study is no longer recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - anti-thymocyte globulin,cyclophosphamide,cyclosporine,filgrastim,methylprednisolone,prednisone
• HECTHOR: Humira to Spare Steroids in Giant Cell Arteritis - This study is not yet open for patient recruitment (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - adalimumab

See full list of 8 Clinical Trials for Temporal arteritis

Statistics for Temporal arteritis

• Medical statistics for Temporal arteritis
• Prevalence and incidence statistics for Temporal arteritis
• Death and Mortality statistics for Temporal arteritis
• Society statistics for Temporal arteritis

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Article Excerpts about Temporal arteritis

NINDS Vasculitis including Temporal Arteritis Information Page: NINDS (Excerpt)

Temporal arteritis (also called cranial or giant cell arteritis) is an inflammation of the temporal artery (which runs over the temple, beside the eye). (Source: excerpt from NINDS Vasculitis including Temporal Arteritis Information Page: NINDS)

Questions and Answers About Polymyalgia Rheumatica and Giant Cell Arteritis: NIAMS (Excerpt)

Giant cell arteritis, also known as temporal arteritis and cranial arteritis, is a disorder that results in swelling of arteries in the head (most often the temporal arteries, which are located on the temples on each side of the head), neck, and arms. This swelling causes the arteries to narrow, reducing blood flow. Early treatment is critical for good prognosis. (Source: excerpt from Questions and Answers About Polymyalgia Rheumatica and Giant Cell Arteritis: NIAMS)

Headache - Hope Through Research: NINDS (Excerpt)

Arteritis, an inflammation of certain arteries in the head, primarily affects people over age 50. Symptoms include throbbing headache, fever, and loss of appetite. Some patients experience blurring or loss of vision. Prompt treatment with corticosteroid drugs helps to relieve symptoms. (Source: excerpt from Headache - Hope Through Research: NINDS)

Aging and Your Eyes - Age Page - Health Information: NIA (Excerpt)

Temporal arteritis causes the arteries in the temple area of the forehead to become swollen. It can begin with a severe headache, pain when chewing, and tenderness in the temple area. It may be followed in a few weeks by sudden vision loss. Other symptoms can include shaking, weight loss, and low-grade fever. Scientists don’t know the cause of temporal arteritis, but they think it may be a disorder of the immune system. Early treatment with medication can help prevent vision loss in one or both eyes. (Source: excerpt from Aging and Your Eyes - Age Page - Health Information: NIA)

Definitions of Temporal arteritis:

Subacute, granulomatous arteritis involving the external carotid arteries, especially the temporal artery; occurs in elderly persons and may be manifested by constitutional symptoms, particularly severe headache, and sometimes sudden unilateral blindness; shares many of the symptoms of polymyalgia rheumatica. - (Source - Diseases Database)

Inflammation of the temporal arteries; characterized by headaches and difficulty chewing and (sometimes) visual impairment - (Source - WordNet 2.1)

Temporal arteritis is listed as a "rare disease" by the Office of Rare Diseases (ORD) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This means that Temporal arteritis, or a subtype of Temporal arteritis, affects less than 200,000 people in the US population.
Source - National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Ophanet, a consortium of European partners, currently defines a condition rare when it affects 1 person per 2,000. They list Temporal arteritis as a "rare disease".
Source - Orphanet