Temporal Arteritis

Temporal arteritis is defined as an inflammatory condition affecting the medium sized blood vessles that supply the head, eyes and optic nerves. It is also known as Giant Cell arteritis or Cranial arteritis. Arteritis is a condition which can cause sudden loss of sight in one eye.

This disease usually affects those over 60 years of age. It cause the vessels in become swollen and tender. Women are near about items more likely then men.

Arteritis may be generalized or confined to one area. When the condition is generalized then the term Giant cell arteritis is used but when the effects are limited to the arteries in the scalp then the term. Temporal or cranial arteritis is used.

Causes of Temporal Arteritis

There is no known cause for Temporal Arteritis. But accompanying sudden to optic nerve damage caused off the central artery to the retina or any one of its branches. Artery occlusion may also ischaemic that is obstructed blood flow or hypertensive, that is raised blood pressure conditions.

Signs and Symptoms of Temporal Arteritis

The condition occurs most often in medium sized arteries which may sell and become tender these arteries in stopped by a clot forming. Patients with Temporal arteritis usually notice visual symptoms in one eye at first in one eye at first, but as many as 5-% may notice symptoms in the fellow eye within day if the condition is untreated

Occasionally Temporal Arteritis may be accompanied ained by severe headaches, fever, weight loss, depression, strokes and heart attacks. Pain and stiffness in related muscle groups may occur months or years before the cranial symptoms but may not be a prominent feature when headaches occur.

Some people may have pain in the jaw on speaking or chewing and in severe cases, thrombosis of the ophthalmic vessels causes loss of vision. In severe cases sight loss in one eye is the first manifestation of arteritis and other systemic features are minimal of absent. Generally there will be loss of pulsation in the inflamed arteries usually the artery on the temple above the ear. There may also be loss of appetite or fatigue.

Treatment of Temporal Arteritis

The ophthalmologist often works in conjunction with the patient’s internist to treat this disease. The primary treatment for the disease is oral steroid medication to reduce the inflammatory process. Most patients notice an improvement in their symptoms within several days. In some cases, a long term maintenance dosage term maintenance dosage of the steroid is required.

Aspirin is also the ought to be preventive, but like all matters related to individual health and medication, this should be discussed with the doctor as part of the overall health profile. Aspirin is not suitable for everybody. Examination of the inflamed artery may be undertaken in the form of a biopsy to confirm diagnosis. This involves minor local surgery to remove and examine small section of blood vessel.

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