Suspected giant cell arteritis

Suspected Giant Cell Arteritis (Urgent referrals via SCI)

Refer if all 4 features present:

• age of onset > 50 yrs
• Elevated CRP (or awaiting urgent CRP result)
• Recent onset of headache (usually temporal)
• No alternative explanation for headache

Refer to ophthalmology if visual symptoms present e.g diplopia, visual field defects, visual loss

Other features which may make a diagnosis of GCA more likely:

• Scalp pain/tenderness/temporal artery abnormalities (reduced/absent pulsation)
• Jaw or tongue claudication
• Symptoms of polymyalgia rheumatica (proximal muscle pain and stiffness)
• CRP can initially be normal but is extremely rare