Temporal arteritis is a type of vasculopathy (disease of the blood vessels) characterized by chronic inflammation of the lining of large arteries, particularly the temporal arteries, located on each side of the head. Temporal arteritis is also called giant cell arteritis because the cells lining the arteries become enlarged. The cause of temporal arteritis is unknown.
Arteries carry oxygen- and nutrient-rich blood to the body. The temporal arteries are the large arteries that branch off the carotid arteries in the neck and feed the head, eyes and optic nerves.
Although the arteries of the head are most commonly affected, those in the neck, arms and upper body (including the aorta and its branches) may also be affected. The temporal arteries on one or both sides of the head may be affected.
Inflammation and swelling causes the affected arteries to narrow, which reduces blood flow. There can also be death (necrosis) of arterial tissue. The artery may close entirely (occlude) because of severe inflammation or the formation of a blood clot that clogs the artery. In rare cases, an artery will weaken and bulge instead of swell, forming an aneurysm.
Without oxygen, cells begin to die. In severe cases, temporal arteritis can lead to permanent blindness in one or both eyes due to a lack of blood flow. Temporal arteritis is considered the prime ophthalmic emergency because prompt treatment can prevent blindness.
Other serious risks are much rarer. The swelling or blockage of certain arteries in the head may interrupt blood flow to the brain, resulting in a stroke. In late, untreated temporal arteritis, an aneurysm may form in the aortic artery. This aneurysm may burst and cause massive, life-threatening internal bleeding.
However, when temporal arteritis is treated it often resolves within a few months or years. It is not associated with increased mortality.
Temporal arteritis almost exclusively affects individuals over the age of 50. Women are affected twice as often as men, and the condition is most common in individuals of Northern European descent. Temporal arteritis is quite common. It is the most common type of vasculitis (inflammation of the blood vessels) in white Americans. According to the National Institutes of Health, about 200 per 100,000 Americans over age 50 develop temporal arteritis.
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