Giant cell arteritis: diagnosing and treating inflammatory disease in older adults.

Giant cell arteritis (GCA), also known as temporal arteritis, cranial arteritis, or granulomatous arteritis, is a systemic necrotizing vasculitis seen in patients typically over age 50. If untreated, GCA can cause permanent visual loss in one or both eyes in 13% to 50% of patients. Primary care physicians routinely see elderly patients with headaches and fatigue; these may be potential symptoms of GCA.