Giant Cell Arteritis predominantly involves which class of blood vessels?

Giant Cell Arteritis predominantly involves which class of blood vessels?

• A. Small arteries
• B. Medium and Large arteries
• C. Veins
• D. Capillaries

Answer: (B)

Giant cell arteritis is a granulomatous inflammation that predominantly affects medium- and large-sized arteries. The disease targets the walls of these vessels, especially branches of the carotid artery such as the temporal artery, and can involve proximal portions of other major arteries. The inflammatory process typically resides in the media with multinucleated giant cells and leads to intimal hyperplasia and luminal narrowing, causing ischemia. Veins and capillaries are not the primary sites of involvement, which is why the clinical picture centers on arterial symptoms like headaches, scalp tenderness, jaw claudication, and risk of vision loss from optic nerve ischemia.

Giant cell arteritis is a granulomatous inflammation that predominantly affects medium- and large-sized arteries. The disease targets the walls of these vessels, especially branches of the carotid artery such as the temporal artery, and can involve proximal portions of other major arteries. The inflammatory process typically resides in the media with multinucleated giant cells and leads to intimal hyperplasia and luminal narrowing, causing ischemia. Veins and capillaries are not the primary sites of involvement, which is why the clinical picture centers on arterial symptoms like headaches, scalp tenderness, jaw claudication, and risk of vision loss from optic nerve ischemia.