Giant cell arteritis principally affects which artery, and often affects which other artery too?

Giant cell arteritis principally affects which artery, and often affects which other artery too?

• A. Temporal, ophthalmic
• B. Ophthalmic, temporal
• C. Carotid, Renal
• D. Aorta, Pulmonary

Answer: (A)

Giant cell arteritis is a granulomatous large-vessel vasculitis that most often inflames the superficial temporal artery, a major branch of the external carotid. It frequently involves the ophthalmic artery as well, which supplies the eye and helps explain why vision problems are a key concern in this disease. The other pairings don’t reflect the typical pattern of involvement in GCA, since renal and carotid, or aorta and pulmonary arteries, are not the classic combination described.

Giant cell arteritis is a granulomatous large-vessel vasculitis that most often inflames the superficial temporal artery, a major branch of the external carotid. It frequently involves the ophthalmic artery as well, which supplies the eye and helps explain why vision problems are a key concern in this disease. The other pairings don’t reflect the typical pattern of involvement in GCA, since renal and carotid, or aorta and pulmonary arteries, are not the classic combination described.