Epidemiology of giant cell arteritis and polymyalgia rheumatica

Giant cell arteritis (GCA), also called Horton or granulomatous arteritis, is a largeand medium-sized blood vessel systemic vasculitis characterized by the granulomatous involvement of the aorta and its major branches (1,2). Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is a disease characterized by severe bilateral pain and aching involving the neck, shoulder, and pelvic girdles associated with morning stiffness (1). GCA and PMR mainly occur in white individuals age 50 years. Due to the progressive aging of the population in Western countries, both conditions have emerged as relatively common diseases in the elderly (1,2).