Giant Cell Arteritis and Vision Loss in Grand Rapids, MI

Giant cell arteritis (GCA), also called temporal arteritis, is a serious inflammation of medium and large arteries that requires urgent medical treatment. When these arteries become inflamed, they narrow and reduce blood flow to nearby tissues. If the arteries that supply the eyes are affected, this can lead to sudden, severe, and usually permanent vision loss.

In Grand Rapids and across West Michigan, older adults—especially women—are at higher risk. Because GCA can cause irreversible blindness, anyone with symptoms in the Grand Rapids area should seek immediate care at an emergency department or from an eye specialist.

How Giant Cell Arteritis Affects the Eyes

Although GCA can affect many arteries in the body, it most often targets the temporal arteries, which run along the sides of the forehead near the temples. When these arteries are inflamed:

  • Blood supply to the optic nerve and retina can be reduced or cut off
  • This can cause anterior ischemic optic neuropathy, a condition where the optic nerve becomes pale and swollen
  • Vision loss in one eye can occur suddenly and without pain
  • Vision in the other eye can be lost days later if treatment is not started quickly

In Grand Rapids, patients with suspected GCA and vision changes are often evaluated urgently by ophthalmologists at:

  • Corewell Health (formerly Spectrum Health) Butterworth Hospital
  • Trinity Health Grand Rapids
  • Metro Health – University of Michigan Health
  • Mercy Health physician groups

Many of these centers have 24/7 emergency departments and on-call eye specialists.

How Common Is Giant Cell Arteritis?

  • About 1 in 500 people will experience giant cell arteritis
  • Women are affected about twice as often as men
  • It almost always occurs in people over age 50
  • The average age at diagnosis is around 70 years
  • GCA is more common in Caucasians and in people of northern European ancestry

Because West Michigan, including Grand Rapids, has a significant older and Caucasian population, local primary care doctors, rheumatologists, and ophthalmologists are familiar with recognizing and treating this condition.

Symptoms of Giant Cell Arteritis

Giant cell arteritis can cause both general (whole-body) symptoms and eye or head-related symptoms. Not everyone will have every symptom.

General Symptoms

  • Fever or low-grade temperature
  • Fatigue and low energy
  • Night sweats
  • Unintentional weight loss
  • Feeling generally unwell or “flu-like” without a clear cause
  • Depression or mood changes
  • Muscle aches, especially in the shoulders, hips, or neck (often related to polymyalgia rheumatica – see below)

Head and Scalp Symptoms

  • New headaches (intermittent or constant), often on one or both sides of the head
  • Tenderness over the temples (even light touch, like brushing your hair, may hurt)
  • Pain in the jaw or tongue when chewing, talking, or swallowing (jaw claudication)
  • Red, inflamed, or painful patches on the scalp
  • Localized hair loss (alopecia) over tender scalp areas
  • In severe cases, areas of the scalp may lose blood supply and develop necrosis (tissue death)

Eye and Vision Symptoms

These are medical emergencies:

  • Sudden, painless loss of vision in one eye
  • Sudden double vision (diplopia)
  • Blurred or dim vision
  • Changes in color vision
  • Flashes of light or other unusual visual disturbances

In Grand Rapids, if you experience sudden vision loss or double vision, go immediately to the nearest emergency department (for example, at Corewell Health Butterworth, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, or Metro Health) or call 911.

What Causes Giant Cell Arteritis?

The exact cause of giant cell arteritis is unknown, but many experts believe it is an autoimmune disorder. In autoimmune diseases, the immune system mistakenly attacks the body’s own tissues—in this case, the walls of certain arteries.

Risk Factors

  • Gender: Women are affected about twice as often as men
  • Age: Almost always occurs in people over 50, with an average age of about 70
  • Race/Ethnicity: More common in Caucasians
  • Geography: Higher rates in northern European populations and regions with similar demographics, such as parts of Michigan

Cold West Michigan winters and seasonal infections do not directly cause GCA, but older adults in Grand Rapids may see doctors more often in winter for other issues, which can sometimes help with earlier detection of GCA symptoms.

About half of all people with giant cell arteritis are also diagnosed with polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR).

PMR is a syndrome, meaning it is a collection of symptoms rather than a single disease. It is also thought to be driven by inflammation.

Common Symptoms of Polymyalgia Rheumatica

  • Stiffness and aching in the neck, shoulders, and hips
  • Stiffness that is worst in the morning or after rest
  • Difficulty raising arms, getting out of a chair, or climbing stairs
  • General fatigue and feeling unwell

Because GCA and PMR often occur together, many researchers believe they may represent different forms of the same underlying inflammatory disease.

In Grand Rapids, PMR and GCA are commonly managed by rheumatologists, often in collaboration with primary care physicians and ophthalmologists.

How Giant Cell Arteritis Is Diagnosed

If your doctor in Grand Rapids suspects giant cell arteritis, they will move quickly because of the risk of permanent vision loss. Diagnosis usually involves several steps.

1. Medical History

Your healthcare provider will ask about:

  • Age and general health
  • New headaches or scalp tenderness
  • Jaw pain with chewing
  • Vision changes or vision loss
  • Symptoms of polymyalgia rheumatica (stiffness, muscle pain)
  • Past medical conditions (such as diabetes, thyroid problems, or autoimmune diseases)

2. Physical Examination

Your doctor will:

  • Gently feel (palpate) the temporal arteries on each side of your forehead to check for tenderness, thickening, or decreased pulse
  • Examine the scalp for redness, lesions, or hair loss
  • Check for signs of inflammation elsewhere in the body

3. Eye Examination

If your eyes are affected, an ophthalmologist (eye specialist) in Grand Rapids will:

  • Examine the optic disc at the back of the eye
  • Look for a pale, swollen optic nerve, which suggests anterior ischemic optic neuropathy, the most serious eye complication of GCA
  • Test your visual acuity and visual fields

4. Blood Tests

Certain blood tests can support the diagnosis:

  • Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR): Often very high in GCA
  • C-reactive protein (CRP): Another marker of inflammation, usually elevated
  • Complete blood counts and other tests to look for inflammation or anemia

These tests are not specific to GCA but are helpful clues, especially when combined with symptoms and exam findings.

5. Other Tests to Rule Out Similar Conditions

Because other diseases can mimic GCA, your doctor may consider or test for:

  • Diabetes-related vascular problems
  • Atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries)
  • Thyroid dysfunction
  • Trigeminal neuralgia
  • Dermatomyositis
  • Multiple myeloma
  • Rheumatoid arthritis

Imaging studies (such as ultrasound, MRI, or CT) may be used in some cases to evaluate blood vessels or rule out other causes.

6. Temporal Artery Biopsy

The gold standard test for confirming giant cell arteritis is a temporal artery biopsy:

  • A small piece of the temporal artery is removed under local anesthesia
  • The tissue is examined under a microscope by a pathologist
  • An affected artery will show inflammation, narrowing, and characteristic immune cells
  • “Giant cells” (large cells with many nuclei) may be present—but they are not always found

Biopsy confirms about 94% of cases, making it a very important test. Sometimes both temporal arteries may need to be biopsied, especially if the first biopsy is negative but suspicion remains high.

In Grand Rapids, temporal artery biopsies are often performed by vascular surgeons, general surgeons, or specialized ophthalmologists at hospitals such as Corewell Health Butterworth or Trinity Health Grand Rapids.

Treatment of Giant Cell Arteritis in Grand Rapids

Why Immediate Treatment Matters

Because GCA can cause rapid and permanent blindness, doctors in Grand Rapids will typically start treatment immediately if they strongly suspect the condition—even before biopsy results are available.

Corticosteroid Medications

The main treatment for giant cell arteritis is corticosteroid drugs (steroids), such as prednisone.

  • High-dose oral corticosteroids are usually started right away
  • Symptoms often improve within 48–72 hours
  • Early treatment can reduce the risk of vision loss in the other eye
  • After symptoms and blood tests improve, the dose is gradually tapered over weeks to months to a low maintenance dose

In severe cases, especially when vision loss has already occurred:

  • Intravenous (IV) corticosteroids may be given in the hospital for the first 3–5 days
  • This is often followed by high-dose oral steroids at home

In the Grand Rapids area, this care is typically coordinated through hospital systems like Corewell Health, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, or Metro Health – U of M Health, with follow-up by rheumatologists, neurologists, and ophthalmologists.

Additional Medications

To help control inflammation and reduce steroid side effects, your doctor may prescribe:

  • Methotrexate or other immunosuppressive drugs to allow for lower steroid doses
  • Medications to protect bone health, because long-term steroid use can lead to:
    • Osteoporosis (weak, brittle bones)
    • Fractures
    • Bone infections

Your treatment plan will be closely monitored through regular follow-up visits and blood tests to balance symptom control with long-term safety.

Treatment Duration and Relapse

  • Steroids usually need to be taken for 12–18 months
  • GCA often resolves within about five years
  • Relapses (flare-ups) are most common in the first 18 months of treatment or within one year after stopping treatment
  • About 1 in 4 people will experience a relapse
  • It is not possible to predict in advance who will relapse, so ongoing monitoring is essential

In Grand Rapids, long-term management may involve your primary care provider, rheumatologist, and ophthalmologist, with support from local resources such as the Kent County Health Department and Grand Rapids Public Health for general health and preventive care.

Living With Giant Cell Arteritis in West Michigan

Because giant cell arteritis primarily affects older adults, many patients in Grand Rapids are also managing other conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, or heart disease. Coordinated care is especially important.

Practical Considerations

  • Medication adherence: Take steroids and other medications exactly as prescribed
  • Bone health: Ask about calcium, vitamin D, bone density testing, and osteoporosis prevention
  • Regular check-ups: Keep all follow-up appointments for blood tests and eye exams
  • Seasonal health in Michigan:
    • Winter ice and snow increase fall risk, especially with osteoporosis
    • Shorter daylight hours and limited outdoor activity can affect mood and vitamin D levels

Your healthcare team can help you adjust your treatment and lifestyle for Michigan’s seasonal changes.

When to Seek Immediate Help in Grand Rapids

Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department (such as Corewell Health Butterworth, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health, or another local hospital) if you have:

  • Sudden, painless vision loss in one or both eyes
  • Sudden double vision
  • A new, severe headache with scalp tenderness and jaw pain, especially if you are over 50
  • Vision changes plus fever, weight loss, or muscle stiffness

Do not wait for a routine appointment if you have these symptoms—rapid treatment can save your remaining vision.

Local Resources and Specialists in Grand Rapids, MI

If you live in the Grand Rapids area and are concerned about symptoms of giant cell arteritis, you can seek help from:

  • Your primary care provider (GP / family doctor)
  • Emergency departments at:
    • Corewell Health Butterworth Hospital
    • Trinity Health Grand Rapids
    • Metro Health – University of Michigan Health
  • Ophthalmologists (eye specialists)
  • Neurologists
  • Rheumatologists

For general health information, support, and referrals:

  • Kent County Health Department
  • Grand Rapids Public Health programs

Key Points About Giant Cell Arteritis

  • Giant cell arteritis is a serious inflammation of medium and large arteries that needs urgent treatment
  • It most commonly affects the temporal arteries at the sides of the head
  • Inflammation narrows the arteries, reducing blood flow and potentially causing permanent vision loss
  • The exact cause is unknown, but it is likely an autoimmune disorder
  • Women, people over 50, and those of northern European ancestry are at higher risk
  • Prompt treatment with corticosteroids can relieve symptoms and often prevent vision loss in the other eye
  • In Grand Rapids, rapid evaluation at local hospitals and by eye and rheumatology specialists is critical to protect your sight and overall health.