Temporal arteritis, also referred to as giant cell arteritis, causes a one-sided, throbbing headache in the temple area which may be accompanied by scalp tenderness, blurred vision, flu-like symptoms, a low fever, loss of appetite, and maybe even jaw pain. It is an inflammation of the arteries located in the temple area. The inflammation narrows the blood vessels, thus reducing blood flow. The cause is not known but about half the people who get this disease also suffer from polymyalgia rheumatica.
Polymyalgia rheumatica is an arthritic disease characterized by muscle pain and stiffness which is worse in the morning. Its cause is also unknown but it is rare in people under 50. About 15 percent of people with polymyalgia rheumatica develop temporal arteritis, and in half or more of those people the ophthalmic arteries, which supply blood to the eyes, are affected.
The good news is that this is not a common disease. The bad news for women is that they are much more likely to get it than men.
As mentioned earlier, if untreated, this disease can cause blindness. Treated promptly, though, it should be gone in a year or two with no lasting effects.
It is diagnosed by means of a biopsy of the temporal artery (removing a small sample of tissue) which will show abnormal cells in the artery walls if the disease is present. The doctor may also call for a blood test to determine if the sed rate (erythrocyte sedimentation rate) is high.
Initial treatment consists of high dose steroids, such as prednisone. The drug must be started immediately to prevent blindness. Normally the dose can be reduced after about a month, when the risk of blindness no longer exists, and the patient will remain on a lower dose of the steroid for a year or two. Not only should there be no lasting effects, it will most likely never reappear.
Steroids are used only with great caution because of possible side effects such as bloating, easy bruising, difficult wound healing, increased blood pressure, and stomach irritation. A person taking steroid drugs must not suddenly stop taking them. If they are wrong for you, your doctor will gradually taper the dose until it is safe to stop.
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