Symptoms and Complications
Early symptoms of GCA include fever, weakness, and weight loss, which may come on suddenly. These symptoms may go on to the classic symptoms of GCA, such as:
- double vision, blurred vision, or a black curtain coming over vision; these symptoms are due to narrowing of the main artery to the eye
- headache in the temple or back of the head (60% of people have this symptom)
- sensitive, tender scalp
- swollen, bumpy, tender arteries in the temple, often lacking a noticeable pulse
- weak or painful jaw muscles - chewing brings on pain that goes away when stopped, due to lack of oxygen to the jaw muscles
- weight loss
- fever
- anemia and other blood abnormalities
- fatigue
If arteritis is left untreated, it can progress to the following symptoms:
- blind spots or sudden blindness in one eye
- stroke
- heart attack
- other serious conditions due to impaired blood flow in the arteries
Blindness is a serious threat in arteritis. In a few cases, vision loss is the first sign of GCA. Unfortunately, any damage already done is usually irreversible. Most people get warning symptoms (called prodromes), such as fluctuating vision, black curtains that briefly descend over vision in one eye (called amaurosis fugax), and headaches, giving them time to take action and see their doctor.