Giant cell arteritis

Abstract

Giant cell arteritis (GCA) or Horton's disease is a systemic granulomatous vasculitis of medium–and large–sized arteries. This is an antigen–driven disease with local T–cell and macrophage activation in the vessel wall and with an important role of proinflammatory cytokines. GCA is also called “temporal arteritis” because it involves often the superficial temporal arteries. The condition affects especially the extracranial branches of the carotid artery, but recently, GCA has been recognised to also affect limb arteries and the aorta with high prevalence.