Giant cell arteritis

Giant cell arteritis is a systemic vasculitis that primarily affects medium and large arteries, leading to thickening of the vessel walls, luminal narrowing, and obstruction, resulting in tissue ischemia. Symptoms include loss of appetite, fatigue, fever, and weight loss. Headaches, chest pain, intermittent claudication of the jaw, and visual disturbances may also occur. This disease almost exclusively affects individuals over 50 years of age, with the incidence increasing with age.