Temporal arteritis is a systemic pathology, an inflammatory disease of the vasculitis group that affects the temporal and carotid arteries. According to other versions, it is called giant cell arteritis, Horton's disease.
With age, the arteries wear out, as a result of which pathologies in the body are possible. The disease is natural for an elderly person whose blood vessels undergo thrombosis and various negative effects.
The disease begins with an immune response, the production of antibodies and complexes that remain on the walls of blood vessels. Cells secrete mediators, resulting in inflammation.
Kinds
Types of temporal arteritis:
- for reasons of origin: primary - an independent disease, secondary - arising from ailments that affect small and large arteries;
- by type of inflammation: specific, non-specific;
- along the course of the process - purulent, productive, necrotic;
- by localization - local or widespread.
Symptomatology
The picture of the disease is expressed with symptoms adjacent to other ailments. Untimely access to a doctor complicates the diagnosis.
Symptoms of temporal arteritis in the initial stage:
- pain in the temples;
- fatigue of the masticatory muscles;
- decreased reflex when talking and eating.
Symptoms of temporal arteritis in the following stages:
- cough for no apparent reason;
- a sore throat;
- insufficiency of blood supply to the optic nerve and visual impairment (sometimes one eye), double vision;
- fever, temperature instability;
- blood pressure differences;
- thinning of the scalp in the area of hair growth, which causes pain when touched;
- ocular ischemic syndrome due to impaired blood flow;
- sharp weight loss, fatigue.
Symptoms of temporal arteritis may be accompanied by fainting and unconsciousness. Headaches are present in the development process and in the advanced stage. Patients usually complain of a one-sided headache.
External symptoms of temporal arteritis manifest as:
- arterial swelling, which is clearly visible externally (without treatment, the disease can lead to death);
- due to circulatory disorders, vision deteriorates (pain in the eyeball is felt, the perceived image becomes blurred, and without timely treatment, vision loss is threatened).
Common symptoms
Inflammation of the aorta, artery, and branches is manifested by the following common symptoms:
- lack of pulse;
- cessation of blood circulation;
- pain in affected areas;
- loss of consciousness with dizziness;
- atrophied muscle areas.
Forms of the disease
Inflammatory form of temporal arteritis. Symptoms and treatment: fever, headache, intense weight loss, in which blood thinners, vasoconstrictors and hormones are prescribed.
Atypical form. The absence of symptoms of temporal arteritis, diagnosis is possible on the basis of headache, which can only be detected in the chronic stage. Death is not ruled out if you do not consult a doctor on time.
Generalized form. The pathological process develops without taking into account gender and age, the symptoms of temporal arteritis in young people are expressed as a stroke due to inflammation of the vestibular zone, heart attack, blindness, and death. Headache, as a symptom, is rare.
Causes
It is impossible to accurately determine the occurrence factors of temporal arteritis. Theoretically, the disease can provoke a genetic predisposition and natural deterioration of the arteries with the destruction of the walls. Among other causes of the disease is a passive lifestyle, prerequisites for the development of blood clots, which becomes an additional factor causing inflammation.
One of the probable reasons is taking antibacterial drugs.
Prerequisites for the development of pathology are: autoimmune processes, weakened immunity, infectious diseases, which is accompanied by known symptoms. The cause of temporal arteritis is the production of antibodies by the body, the development of an autoimmune process and the defeat of large vessels, which is the forerunner of the onset of the disease.
Disease development
The development of antibodies in the initial stage is due to a violation of the functions of the immune system as a result of the interaction of the body with the infection. Viruses are able to change the cellular structure, which is perceived by the immune system as the activation of foreign bodies. Antibodies that are produced will be attached to the walls of blood vessels for destructive purposes. As a result, inflammation occurs inside the large and medium walls of the vessels, which provokes their thickening.
Then granulomas form in the areas of inflammation. Histological examination reveals plasma cells, histiocytes, lymphocytes, eosinophils, plasma and multinucleated cells in them.
The vessels thicken due to inflammation, become uneven, blood clots appear inside them. In this case, not the full area of the artery opens, but individual segments. The process is asymmetric and affects the temporal artery to a greater extent. Often other parts of the arteries are involved. Also, changes are found in the coronary, iliac, subclavian, carotid arteries. Aneurysms are visible in the inflamed aorta.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis of temporal arteritis involves the following measures.
For the purpose of accurate diagnosis of the disease and optimal treatment, a general and biochemical blood test is prescribed, which determines the erythrocyte sedimentation rate and malfunctions of the immune system.
To exclude causes not related to the disease, with symptoms of temporal arteritis, diagnosis involves a biopsy of the temporal artery. If inflammation affects the organ of vision, the same analysis is performed from the side of the eye.
With damage to the temporal artery, giant cell arteritis is likely, and in the case of other arteries, the diagnosis is not confirmed. The patient will be redirected to specialists of various profiles without receiving treatment for the pathological process. At the first symptoms, complex diagnostics are rarely performed.
Detailed diagnosis of giant cell arteritis:
- examination and assessment of arterial pulsation;
- detection of shallow arteries, soreness and noise in them;
- recommendations of an ophthalmologist taking into account the fundus picture;
- general blood test to determine ESR, moderate normo- or hypochromic anemia;
- determination of the level of C-reactive protein for the analysis of inflammation;
- biopsy, ultrasound of vessels, angiography: the tendency to narrow the lumen of the arteries allows you to clarify the disease, indirect methods - to establish a diagnosis clinically.
Complications
If untreated, other arteries can be affected, in some cases the kidneys suffer, ophthalmic problems occur (about 15% of complications in patients).
If the pathological process affects the functions of the central nervous system. Ischemic disorders of this kind can cause a stroke.
The presence of a pathological process in the superior mesenteric artery provokes a malfunction of the digestive tract, the development of background diseases is not excluded.
Treatment
In the presence of symptoms of temporal arteritis, treatment is carried out by two methods: surgical and therapeutic. If the disease is at an early stage, the doctor will prescribe corticosteroids, symptomatic treatment, which will help prevent a heart attack, stroke, and loss of vision.
The main treatment is medication: glucocorticoids, prednisone, vasodilators, vasodilators, blood thinners, aspirin to improve blood circulation, heparin to prevent thrombosis.
With non-standard symptoms of temporal arteritis, surgical treatment becomes the treatment method. Usually it is indicated for aneurysm, thrombosis, oncology, the need for prosthetic limbs.
The primary diagnosis is often carried out by doctors of other specialties, while the main method of treating temporal arteritis is corticosteroid therapy. After confirming the diagnosis, hormones (50-60 mg / day) are prescribed with its increase if necessary. The average duration of the course is 10 months.
In addition to basic therapy, symptomatic treatment is prescribed to normalize blood circulation, drugs to strengthen blood vessels and better functioning of organs. In the process of treatment, it is necessary to monitor the condition of the liver, the possibility of osteoporosis, to prevent the steroid ulcers of the gastrointestinal tract, to control the level of glucose in the blood.
Therapeutic measures
A universal scheme that allows you to effectively treat pathology is absent, however, there are a number of basic measures:
- identification and elimination of the source of infection;
- maintaining the functions of the vascular system and affected organs;
- strengthening immunity and central nervous system;
- elimination of toxins;
- diet, fractional nutrition, salt restriction, replenishment of potassium and calcium.
Recommended Products:
- boiled vegetables;
- milk porridges and soups;
- low-fat varieties of meat and fish;
- steam omelettes;
- vegetable jelly, juices;
- rosehip broth;
- green tea;
- fruits and berries.
ethnoscience
Experts warn against uncontrolled treatment with folk remedies during a progressive disease. But the plant components in tinctures can improve the patient’s immunity, relieve negative symptoms. In combination with therapeutic treatment, massages, acupuncture and more are indicated.
For symptoms of temporal arteritis, treatment with folk remedies is as follows: the use of plants with anti-inflammatory properties that enhance immunity and reduce pain.
With temporal vasculitis, it is recommended:
- tea with chamomile;
- calendula infusion (flowers);
- infusion, licorice broth (roots);
- tea with echinacea.
A drink with echinacea is considered preventive. The best results can be achieved in combination with the main therapy, but it is necessary to consult with a specialist. Self-treatment without diagnosis is unacceptable.
Prevention
It is impossible to cure the disease at home, the state of health can be improved with the use of preventive methods: facilitated physical exercises, warming procedures, breathing exercises, diet.
Recommended nutrition, including fiber, vitamins. Measures are needed to strengthen the immune system, given its relationship with the disease.
Forecast
The prognosis depends on the time of the diagnosis and the treatment started. At an early stage, there is a likelihood of successful therapy, life expectancy is preserved, but later stages are reflected unfavorably on the body and reduce its capabilities.
For young people, the forecast will be years, for the elderly - months.
In children, temporal arteritis is usually not observed, except in cases of heredity. In women, the disease is sometimes associated with hormonal changes. In other cases, it manifests itself with the transition to old age.
Recovery depends on the location and mass of the affected area. Treatment lasts from a year or more, and increases if important arteries are affected, and the patient is constantly monitored.
In this article, we discussed the symptoms and treatment of temporal arteritis. The photos posted above show how dangerous this pathology is and how important it is to consult a specialist in a timely manner.