Which disease is closely associated with an increased risk of giant cell arteritis?

Giant cell arteritis, also known as temporal arteritis, is an inflammatory condition that primarily affects the large and medium-sized arteries, particularly those in the head. It is strongly associated with polymyalgia rheumatica, a condition characterized by muscle pain and stiffness, especially in the shoulders and hips.

Patients with polymyalgia rheumatica often experience systemic symptoms such as fatigue, fever, and weight loss, which overlap with the symptoms of giant cell arteritis. Approximately 50% of patients with giant cell arteritis will have polymyalgia rheumatica, and having one condition significantly raises the risk of developing the other. The inflammatory mechanisms that underlie both conditions suggest a close relationship, which is why a diagnosis of polymyalgia rheumatica often prompts careful monitoring for signs of giant cell arteritis.

The other conditions listed—history of transient ischemic attacks, frequent migraine headaches with focal neurologic findings, and systemic lupus erythematosus—do not have the same strong association with giant cell arteritis as polymyalgia rheumatica does.