Autoimmune Disease in focus: Giant Cell Arteritis GCA

Outline of side of face, showing superficial temporal artery in red. (to left of ear.) Grays Anatomy 1918.

The superficial temporal artery is a major artery of the head. Arteries are blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart.

The superficial temporal artery is often affected in giant cell arteritis which is also called temporal arteritis.  Sometimes the artery is biopsied to get a correct diagnosis.

Giant-cell arteritis is also called GCA, temporal arteritis, Horton's Disease or cranial arteritis. It is more common in women than in men and in people over the age of 55.

It is inflammation of the blood vessels in the face and head. It often presents as blurred vision or sudden loss of vision to one or both eyes as the blood supply to the eye is affected

The superficial temporal artery is the same artery that can be enlarged in Migraine attacks.