Question 1

is there any treatment for temporal arteritis other than prednisone?

Accepted Answer

Tocilizumab: So for a fraction of people with temporal arthritis, they possess extremely elevated il-6 levels. Il-6 is a protein that increases with inflammation and is thought to contribute to several autoimmune diseases. John stone (mgh, harvard) has described the use of tocilizumab which blocks the activity of il-6 in these patients with very good results. It may not work for everyone, so discuss with md.

Question 2

what are the treatments for temporal arteritis?

Accepted Answer

Steroids...: ...And lots of them. Treatment length is months in duration.

Question 3

what are the tests for temporal arteritis?

Accepted Answer

ESR and clinical: Sedimentation rate is usually significantly elevated, but clinical judgement is just as important.

Question 4

symptoms of temporal arteritis should be what?

Accepted Answer

Multiple: Excessive sweating
    fever
    general ill feeling
    jaw pain that comes and goes 
    loss of appetite
    muscle aches
    pain and stiffness in the neck, upper arms, shoulder, and hips
    throbbing headache on one side of the head or the back of the head
    scalp sensitivity, tenderness when touching the scalp
blurred vision
double vision
blindness
weakness
weight loss.

Question 5

what if predisones doesn't help for temporal arteritis?

Accepted Answer

Usually does!: Prednisone usually helps.  But the damage caused by the condition may not be reversible with prednisone treatment.  Headache, fatigue, etc. should improve with prednisone (usually required long term with slow taper).  If there is vision loss or changes, it is usually permanent.

Question 6

how come i have temporal arteritis, but nobody else in the family has it?

Accepted Answer

Not infection: Temporal arteritis is not infection or genetic, it is autoimmune treated with steroids, can have other body symptoms than headache in polymyalgia---can threaten vision--see your doctor.

Question 7

does temporal arteritis just affect in their 50's or can i afect young men too?

Accepted Answer

It certainly could: Disease does not follow the usual pattern in the majority of cases.  Classical circumstances are found in textbooks not clinics.

Question 8

what is this disease called "temporal arteritis"?

Accepted Answer

A complex disease: Temporal arteritis is inflammation and damage to blood vessels that supply the head area, particularly the large or medium arteries that branch from the neck and supply the temporal area.

If the inflammation affects the arteries in your neck, upper body and arms, it is called giant cell arteritis.

Question 9

have daily headaches have temporal arteritis what causes headaches?

Accepted Answer

Treatable headaches: Temporal arteritis is treated with oral prednisone. It's an auto-immune disorder usualy diagianosed by a proper history and a lab test called a "sedimination rate-esr". Prompt tx is necessary to avoid a stroke, blindness or rarely cardiac ischemia.

Question 10

the doctors believe my in law has temporal arteritis.  could you please explain a little more?

Accepted Answer

Temporal arteritis: Temporal arteritis is inflammation and damage to large and medium arteries that branch from the neck and supply the temporal area, mostly affecting people over 50. It is also called giant cell arteritis, reflecting the type of inflammatory cells seen microscopically, and can involve arteries of large and medium sizes in any parts of the body. Without treatment, it can lead to vision loss.

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Doctor answers about:

Temporal arteritis treatment

A member asked:

Is there any treatment for temporal arteritis other than prednisone?

A member asked:

What are the treatments for temporal arteritis?

A member asked:

What are the tests for temporal arteritis?

A member asked:

Symptoms of temporal arteritis should be what?

A member asked:

What if predisones doesn't help for temporal arteritis?

A member asked:

How come i have temporal arteritis, but nobody else in the family has it?

A member asked:

Does temporal arteritis just affect in their 50's or can i afect young men too?

A member asked:

What is this disease called "temporal arteritis"?

A member asked:

Have daily headaches have temporal arteritis what causes headaches?

A member asked:

The doctors believe my in law has temporal arteritis. could you please explain a little more?

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