Giant cell arteritis

The Giant Cell Arteritis is considered one of the most prevalent autoimmune vasculitis syndromes, which affects arteries of medium and large caliber, being the most feared complication, anterior ischemic optic neuropathy that can evolve to an irreversible loss of vision. The symptoms are caused by local ischemia due to endovascular damage accompanied by systemic damage mediated by cytokines. In recent years, doppler ultrasound, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and PET scans have become important in the search for tools that can confirm or exclude the diagnosis of GCA. However, the Temporal Artery Biopsy (BAT) continues to be the gold standard test for the diagnosis of this disease.