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Medical Author:

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.

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Medical Editor:

Catherine Burt Driver, MD

Catherine Burt Driver, MD

Catherine Burt Driver, MD, is board certified in internal medicine and rheumatology by the American Board of Internal Medicine. Dr. Driver is a member of the American College of Rheumatology. She currently is in active practice in the field of rheumatology in Mission Viejo, Calif., where she is a partner in Mission Internal Medical Group.

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In this Article

• Polymyalgia rheumatica and giant cell arteritis facts
• What is polymyalgia rheumatica?
• What causes polymyalgia rheumatica?
• What are symptoms and signs of polymyalgia rheumatica?
• How is polymyalgia rheumatica diagnosed?
• What is the treatment for polymyalgia rheumatica?
• What is the prognosis (outlook) for patients with polymyalgia rheumatica?
• Can polymyalgia be prevented?
• What are complications of polymyalgia rheumatica?
• What is giant cell arteritis?
• What causes giant cell arteritis?
• What are symptoms of giant cell arteritis?
• How is giant cell arteritis diagnosed?
• What is the treatment for giant cell arteritis?
• What is the prognosis for patients with giant cell arteritis?
• Can giant cell arteritis be prevented?
• What are complications of giant cell arteritis?
• Patient Comments: Polymyalgia Rheumatica - Diagnosis
• Patient Comments: Polymyalgia Rheumatica - Symptoms
• Find a local Rheumatologist in your town
• Polymyalgia Rheumatica Index

There is no prevention for giant cell arteritis. Prevention measures focus on preventing side effects of medications used to treat giant cell arteritis.

Giant cell arteritis can lead to blindness and/or stroke. This is because, in some patients with giant cell arteritis, inflammation of the arteries that supply oxygen to the eyes and brain can impair the circulation to these organs.

Additional complications can result from medications used to treat giant cell arteritis. These include cataracts, bruising of skin, weight gain, and osteoporosis from cortisone medications. Therefore, the lowest possible doses of medications and counter-measures are used to minimize long-term risks.

REFERENCES:

Koopman, William, et al., eds. Clinical Primer of Rheumatology. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2003.

Ruddy, Shaun, et al., eds. Kelley's Textbook of Rheumatology. Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders Co., 2000.