Arteritis
Arteritis is a medical condition characterized by inflammation of the arteries, which can lead to serious complications such as blood clots. It is categorized under vasculitis, a broader group of disorders that involve inflammation of blood vessels. The most common form of arteritis is giant cell arteritis, also known as temporal arteritis, which primarily affects individuals over 50, particularly men, although it can occur at any age. This condition typically inflames the arteries that supply blood to the brain, causing symptoms like severe headaches, jaw pain, fatigue, and vision problems, potentially leading to blindness or stroke if untreated.
While the exact cause of giant cell arteritis remains unclear, it may be related to autoimmune factors or genetic predispositions. Diagnosing the condition involves a combination of blood tests and imaging techniques, with treatment primarily focusing on corticosteroids to reduce inflammation and prevent further damage. Although arteritis cannot be cured, early detection and management can significantly improve outcomes and help patients maintain a normal life. Understanding arteritis and its implications is essential for those experiencing symptoms or at risk.
Arteritis
Arteritis is a disease that causes inflammation of the arteries throughout the body. This condition sometimes develops into thrombosis, or the formation of blood clots, which can be fatal. Arteritis is a subtype of vasculitis, or a group of conditions that involve inflammation of the blood cells. Vasculitis destroys the blood vessels through chronic inflammation.
Early History
The most common subset of arteritis, giant cell arteritis, was first studied in the 1930s. The subsequent decades brought greater understanding of the disease. Many of its associated symptoms, presentations, and complications were not accurately recorded until the 1950s and 1960s. The debate about whether arteritis and giant cell arteritis were conditions related to vasculitis raged until the 1970s. Eventually, experts concluded that arteritis and giant cell arteritis were both subtypes of vasculitis.
Giant Cell Arteritis
Giant cell arteritis, also called temporal arteritis, is a condition in which the blood vessels leading to the brain become damaged or inflamed. It is most common in people over the age of 50, and more common in men than women. However, the disease may develop in any individual at any point in the lifespan.
Giant cell arteritis usually develops in the veins and arteries surrounding the temporal region of the head (either side of the forehead). This is why it is sometimes called temporal arteritis. However, the name is slightly misleading because the disease can occur in any major blood vessel leading to the brain, not just the temporal region.
Giant cell arteritis causes inflammation and swelling in the lining of arteries. This causes the artery to constrict, severely restricting the blood that flows through that passage. Because blood carries oxygen and other vital nutrients throughout the body, any cause of restricted blood flow can be very serious.
Doctors do not yet understand the cause of giant cell arteritis. Many experts suspect the disease may be an autoimmune disorder, or a disease that causes the body's immune system to attacks its healthy cells. Certain individuals may also be genetically predisposed to the condition. Because so little is understood about the origins of the condition, there is no known way to prevent it from occurring.
Giant cell arteritis may cause a number of serious complications. These include inflammation of the blood vessels, damage to other blood vessels, and the development of aneurysms, or ballooning and bursting of the artery. Other complications include weak eye muscles, blindness, and stroke. Blindness resulting from arteritis may be permanent, and both stroke and aneurysms can be fatal. Anyone who suspects they may suffer from giant cell arteritis should inform a doctor as soon as possible.
A variety of symptoms occur in giant cell arteritis. Doctors may recognize the disease when the patient reports a consistent, throbbing headache originating in the temples, jaw pain, fever, shoulder and hip pain or stiffness, fatigue, tenderness in the scalp, double vision, or loss of vision in one eye.
Because many of the symptoms are common to a number of disorders, doctors may conduct a variety of tests to confirm the presence of giant cell arteritis. These include a hemoglobin test to measure the amount of oxygen-carrying protein in the patient’s blood, a C-reactive protein test to check for internal inflammation, an erythrocyte sedimentation rate test to check for internal inflammation, a liver function test to check liver performance, and a hematocrit test to check red blood cell count. If these tests indicate giant cell arteritis, the doctor may order an ultrasound on the affected areas. Ultrasound allows the doctor to study an image of the inflamed arteries without surgical intervention. Should an ultrasound prove inconclusive, the doctor may order a biopsy of the affected area. A biopsy will definitively indicate if inflammation of the arteries is responsible for the patient’s symptoms.
Treatment of Arteritis
There is no cure for arteritis. Treatments are geared toward minimizing tissue damage caused by inadequate blood flow, reducing inflammation, and increasing blood flow.
The most common treatment for arteritis is oral corticosteroids. While effective, these medications may cause osteoporosis, high blood pressure, eye problems, weight gain, skin sensitivity, sleeping difficulties, and a weakened immune system. Other treatments may include an aspirin regimen, bone density screenings, and calcium or vitamin D supplements. Treatment regimens may last as long as two years.
The earlier arteritis is detected, the more likely it is that a patient can lead a long and normal life. Prolonged arteritis causes permanent damage to blood vessels throughout the body, drastically increasing the risk of complications. However, if treated early, the disease can usually be successfully managed.
Other Forms of Vasculitis
Vasculitis is any disease that involves the inflammation of the body’s blood vessels. Some of the many forms of vasculitis include Behcet’s syndrome, Buerger’s disease, Cryoglobulinemia, Takayasu’s disease, Kawasaki disease, and Henoch-Schonlein purpura.
Most forms of vasculitis are rare. Some affect only small areas of the body, while others affect entire organ systems. Additionally, while some types of vasculitis last only a short period of time, others may last for the rest of the individual’s life.
Bibliography
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"Giant Cell Arteritis." Vasculitis Center, John Hopkins University. Web. 8 March 2016. http://www.hopkinsvasculitis.org/types-vasculitis/giant-cell-arteritis/
"Giant Cell Arteritis (Temporal Arteritis)." Vasculitis Foundation. Web. 8 March 2016. http://www.vasculitisfoundation.org/education/forms/giant-cell-arteritis/
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