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Giant Cell Arteritis

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Neuro-Ophthalmology

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Abstract

Giant cell arteritis is one of the most feared conditions in ophthalmology because visual loss can be sudden, severe and permanent. Patients are typically over the age of 50. Presenting symptoms may include headache, scalp tenderness, fatigue, malaise, fever, jaw claudication, and transient or constant diplopia or visual loss. Occasionally, ophthalmic symptoms occur in the absence of common systemic symptoms. Thus, ophthalmologists must maintain a high level of suspicion. Evaluation includes complete blood count with differential, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein. Temporal artery biopsy should be obtained if there is any question to confirm the diagnosis. Prompt corticosteroid treatment (prior to the temporal artery biopsy) should be instituted.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Northern California Kaiser Permanente Medical Group, South San Francisco, CA, USA

    Elizabeth M. Palkovacs

  2. The Northern California Kaiser Permanente Medical Group, Daly City, CA, USA

    Elizabeth M. Palkovacs

  3. Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada

    Fiona Costello

  4. Department of Surgery, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada

    Fiona Costello

  5. University of Cincinnati and The Cincinnati Eye Institute, Cincinnati, OH, USA

    Karl C. Golnik

Authors
  1. Elizabeth M. Palkovacs
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  2. Fiona Costello
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  3. Karl C. Golnik
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Weill Cornell Medicine, Blanton Eye Institute Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, USA

    Andrew G. Lee

  2. Metabolic Neurology, Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research College of Medical & Dental Sciences University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK

    Alexandra J. Sinclair

  3. Houston Methodist Hospital, Blanton Eye Institute, Houston, TX, USA

    Ama Sadaka

  4. Houston Methodist Hospital, Blanton Eye Institute, Houston, TX, USA

    Shauna Berry

  5. Birmingham Neuro-Ophthalmology, University Hospital Birmingham, Birmingham, UK

    Susan P. Mollan

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Palkovacs, E.M., Costello, F., Golnik, K.C. (2019). Giant Cell Arteritis. In: Lee, A., Sinclair, A., Sadaka, A., Berry, S., Mollan, S. (eds) Neuro-Ophthalmology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-98455-1_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-98455-1_4

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