Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is a condition in which certain arteries (blood vessels) become inflamed. It can involve arteries in just about any part of the body, but is also called temporal arteries as it often affects the arteries near the temples.

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Inflammation of the involved artery leads to narrowing and sometimes to complete blockage of the blood vessel. This results in the surrounding tissues being deprived of an adequate blood supply. When GCA involves the arteries that supply blood to the eyes, blindness in one or both eyes may develop suddenly. Strokes may rarely occur. Some of the more common symptoms in GCA include headaches, pain in the jaw or tongue muscles when eating or talking, and tenderness of the scalp over the temples.

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