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Last Updated: Oct 23, 2019
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Cranial Arteritis
Dr. Swarup Kumar GhoshHomeopathy Doctor • 47 Years Exp.MF Homeo (London), DHMS (Diploma in Homeopathic Medicine and Surgery), Biochemistry M.D.( PG) (Kol), CMS Ed, Affilied by UGC & MCI., Electro - Homoeopathy Pledge (Certifict No.11244)., Electro Homoeopathy Certficate., BEMS; MDEH(MP)., Ph..D. (Zoology).BWN.1980, W.H.O Member, & INDIA RED CROSS SOCIETY, "SEHAK"
- This is an important cause of headache in the elderly. As its name implies, it is inflammatory disease of the arterial wall with a predilection for the extracranial vessels, but at times of wide distribution, characteristically in one or both temple often over the occiput. The headache is severe but not continuous. The pain may spread through the face and jaw pain on eating due to the close proximity of the superfical temporal artery to the temporomandibular joint is common. The condition known as polymyalgia rheumatic is almost certainly a variant of the same condition. Only occasionally is this accompanied by the characteristic temporal headache of cranial arteritis, but the pathology of the two syndromes appears to be the same.
- In cranial arteritis, the temporal arteries can often be seen to be unduly prominent with pronounced tenderness precisely over the artery rather than diffusely on the scalp. The occipital arteries may also be thickened tender. One or more of the cranial arteries may be occluded pulseless. The effects of infarction most commonly affect the eyes. Partial or total loss of vision in one, or occasaionally in both of the eyes in succession may develop rapidly at any stage of disease. As a result, blindness may be the presenting symtom or may occur when the headache constitutional symptoms have not been prominent. The reinal vessels may appear quite normal, even when vision has been lost, as it is usually the ophthalmic artey rather than the retinal artery that is occluded. Less commonly, ischaemic vascular papillitis may occur. At a later stage the dise becomes pale. Visual loss seldom shows any degree of recovery. Involvement of the carotid artery may cause cerebral infarction the coronary and mesenteric arteries may also be involved.
- Polymyalgia rheumatica must be distnguished from myositis by the absence of weakness, but pain may make examination difficult.
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