Giant cell arteritis

When viewing this topic in a different language, you may notice some differences in the way the content is structured, but it still reflects the latest evidence-based guidance.

Last reviewed: 20 Aug 2025
Last updated: 20 Aug 2024

Summary

Definição

História e exame físico

Principais fatores diagnósticos

  • presence of risk factors
  • headache
  • scalp pain or tenderness
  • aching and stiffness
  • extremity (limb) claudication
  • loss of vision
  • jaw and tongue claudication
  • arterial tenderness, thickening, or nodularity
  • absent pulse
  • abnormal fundoscopy
Detalhes completos

Outros fatores diagnósticos

  • systemic symptoms
  • neurological symptoms
  • bruit on auscultation
  • asymmetric blood pressure
  • shoulder tenderness
  • limited active range of movement of shoulders and hips
  • dental pain, tongue pain, or infarction of the tongue
Detalhes completos

Fatores de risco

  • age ≥50 years
  • female sex
  • genetic factors
  • smoking
  • atherosclerosis
  • environmental factors
Detalhes completos

Investigações diagnósticas

Primeiras investigações a serem solicitadas

  • CRP
  • ESR
  • FBC
  • vascular ultrasonography
  • temporal artery biopsy
  • liver function tests
  • renal function tests
Detalhes completos

Investigações a serem consideradas

  • fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-PET scan of head to mid-thigh
  • high-resolution MRI of cranial arteries
Detalhes completos

Algoritmo de tratamento

Inicial

suspected GCA

CONTÍNUA

confirmed GCA

Colaboradores

Consultores especialistas

Chetan Mukhtyar, MBBS, MSc, MD, FRCP

Consultant Rheumatologist and Service Director for Rheumatology

Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital

Norwich

UK

Biografia

CM is a co-author on the British Society of Rheumatology guidelines on the management of giant cell arteritis and the EULAR recommendations for the management of large vessel vasculitis.

Declarações

CM is a trustee of the British Society for Rheumatology. CM is an author of references cited in this topic.

Agradecimentos

BMJ Best Practice would like to gratefully acknowledge the previous expert contributors, whose work has been retained in parts of the content:

Kenneth J. Warrington, MD

Professor of Medicine

Mayo Clinic College of Medicine

Rochester

MN

Declarações

KJW’s employer receives payments from Eli Lilly and GlaxoSmithKline for his role as investigator in giant cell arteritis clinical trials. KJW has conducted consulting work for Sanofi. KJW is an author of a number of references cited in this topic.

Revisores

Gary Reynolds, BSc, MRCP, PhD

Wellcome Trust Clinical Career Development Fellow

Translational and Clinical Research Institute

Newcastle University

Honorary Consultant Rheumatologist

Freeman Hospital

Newcastle

UK

Biografia

GR is a co-author on the British Society of Rheumatology guidelines on the management of giant cell arteritis.

Declarações

GR declares that he has no competing interests.

Peer reviewer acknowledgements

BMJ Best Practice topics are updated on a rolling basis in line with developments in evidence and guidance. The peer reviewers listed here have reviewed the content at least once during the history of the topic.

Disclosures

Peer reviewer affiliations and disclosures pertain to the time of the review.

Referências

Nossas equipes internas de editoria e de evidências trabalham em conjunto com colaboradores internacionais especializados e pares revisores para garantir que forneçamos acesso às informações o mais clinicamente relevantes possível.

Principais artigos

Ponte C, Grayson PC, Robson JC, et al. 2022 American College of Rheumatology/EULAR classification criteria for giant cell arteritis. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2022 Dec;74(12):1881-9. Resumo

Hellmich B, Agueda A, Monti S, et al. 2018 Update of the EULAR recommendations for the management of large vessel vasculitis. Ann Rheum Dis. 2020 Jan;79(1):19-30.Texto completo  Resumo

Mackie SL, Dejaco C, Appenzeller S, et al. British Society for Rheumatology guideline on diagnosis and treatment of giant cell arteritis. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2020 Mar 1;59(3):e1-e23.Texto completo  Resumo

Coath FL, Bukhari M, Ducker G, et al. Quality standards for the care of people with giant cell arteritis in secondary care. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2023 Sep 1;62(9):3075-83. Resumo

Dejaco C, Ramiro S, Bond M, et al. EULAR recommendations for the use of imaging in large vessel vasculitis in clinical practice: 2023 update. Ann Rheum Dis. 2024 May 15;83(6):741-51.Texto completo  Resumo

Artigos de referência

Uma lista completa das fontes referenciadas neste tópico está disponível para os usuários com acesso total ao BMJ Best Practice.
  • Diagnósticos diferenciais

    • Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR)
    • Solid organ cancers and haematological malignancies
    • Takayasu's arteritis
    Mais Diagnósticos diferenciais
  • Diretrizes

    • British Society for Rheumatology guideline on diagnosis and treatment of giant cell arteritis
    • 2018 update of the EULAR recommendations for the management of large vessel vasculitis
    Mais Diretrizes
  • Folhetos informativos para os pacientes

    Giant cell arteritis

    Mais Folhetos informativos para os pacientes
  • padlock-lockedConectar-se ou assinar para acessar todo o BMJ Best Practice

O uso deste conteúdo está sujeito ao nosso aviso legal