Review Article

The Thromboembolic Risk in Giant Cell Arteritis: A Critical Review of the Literature

Table 1

Clinical characteristics of GCA; percentage of patients presenting the indicated features.

SymptomsSigns

Severe headaches (75%) Temporal artery tenderness
Jaw claudication (50%)Impaired or absent temporal pulse
Visual loss (temporary or permanent) (20%)Fever
Tongue pain/dysphagia/impaired swallowingExtraocular muscle weakness
Dyspnoea/cough (10%)Neurological symptoms (30%), of which 15% are neuropathy
Vestibular/cochlear dysfunctionRaynaud’s phenomenon
Muscle-skeletal pain (25%)Arthritis/synovitis