Giant cell arteritis / temporal arteritis – Adult
Giant cell arteritis / temporal arteritis – Adult
Emergency and immediate referrals
Referral to Emergency Department:
Immediate Referral (seen within 7 days):
- Temporal tenderness, jaw claudication, blurring of vision
- Burning or craniofacial pain or tenderness or superficial temporal arteries refer for immediate review.
To contact the relevant service, please refer to HealthPathways Acute Rheumatology Assessment (seen within 7 days)
| Presenting symptoms |
- New onset of headaches (usually unilateral)
- Fatigue
- Weight loss
- Tender scalp or temples
- Sudden vision loss, blurred or double vision
- Jaw claudication
- Dizziness
- Poor coordination and balance
- Persistent sore throat
- Dysphagia
- Fevers and sweats
- Dry cough
|
| Mandatory referral information (referral will be returned if this information is not included) |
|
History
- Relevant history:
- Age of onset of symptoms greater than 50 years,
- Onset and time since onset of headaches, visual disturbance, jaw claudication, scalp tenderness
- Details of treatments including steroid exposure
Investigations
If unable to attach reports, please include relevant information/results in the referral
Referrer to state reason if not able to include mandatory referral information in referral (e.g. patient unable to access test due to geographical location or financial cost)
|
| Highly desirable referral information |
- Most recent optometrist or ophthalmologist report
- Temporal artery biopsy histology
- Bone mineral density
- Other screening previously performed including Hep B, Hep C, HIV, QuantiFERON Gold (QFG)
- PET CT, CXR or US
|
Indicative triage category
| Indicative triage category |
Category 1
Appointment within 30 days |
-
Suspected new onset and/or active giant cell arteritis
|
Category 2
Appointment within 90 days |
- No defined category 2 criteria
|
Category 3
Appointment within 365 days |
- No defined category 3 criteria
|
Useful Information for referring practitioners