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| What is cranial arteritis? | Symptoms | Treatment | Consequences |
Cranial arteritis is also called temporal or giant cell arteritis. It is an inflammation of an artery, usually near the temple. An immune reaction causes the artery lining to thicken, which blocks the flow of blood to the eye. It is more common in Caucasian women over age 60.
Symptoms usually begin somewhat vaguely - fever, body aches, and a "run-down" feeling. Then symptoms become more pronounced. The patient experiences throbbing headaches, loss of vision, and facial pain. A definite diagnosis requires a biopsy of the temporal artery for microscopic analysis. This is done under local anesthesia on an outpatient basis.
If you are experiencing some of the symptoms described here, it does not necessarily mean you have cranial arteritis. However, if you experience one or more of these symptoms, you should contact your eye doctor for a complete exam. Click here for information on emergency or immediate care.
Cranial arteritis is treated with corticosteroids, which reduce the risk of vision loss and prevent blindness.
If untreated, cranial arteritis causes blindness in thirty percent of patients.
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