An uncommon disease of older people in which the walls of the arteries in the scalp over the temples become inflamed. Other arteries in the body may also be affected. The cause is unknown, but the condition is often associated with polymyalgia rheumatica. Symptoms may include severe headache on 1 or both sides, scalp tenderness, a low fever, and poor appetite. In about half of the cases, the arteries supplying the eyes are affected, which may cause sudden blindness if left untreated. Diagnosis of temporal arteritis is made by blood tests (including ESR) and, in some cases, by a biopsy of the temporal artery. Treatment involves the use of a corticosteroid drug. If this is not successful, immunosuppressants may be given. The disease usually clears up within 2 years.
Temporal arteritis |
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