Let's throw another one into the ring......

[Queenfisher]

Anyone see this, linking GCA to chicken pox virus?

sciencedaily.com/releases/2...

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Yes, I saw that last year. It could be one reason - it wasn't found in all the subjects though so yet again it is a possible rather than a "ahha" moment.

[Caro12line]

Interesting. About 2 years prior to diagnosis for GCA I was getting recurring Shingles every 3 or 4 months. I had weight loss, fatigue and general feeling of being unwell all attributed to the Shingles. Then the head pains started...... To cut long story short GCA diagnosed and I still get recurring Shingles about every 6 months or so.

[Hidden]

A very good article, which might have been posted by someone else before.

"a condition that inflames blood vessels on the temples and scalp in the elderly, called giant cell arteritis."

Looks like 50 is in the "elderly" bracket.

"Giant cell arteritis causes swelling and tenderness of the arteries on the scalp and temples of people over the age of 50."

The infectious trigger in a range of autoimmune / CT diseases has been known and confirmed for decades. Synovial fluid in seronegative RA patients often contained bacteria for example. This isn't a recent finding. Drs always knew the intimate relationship with autoimmune diseases and infections.

The only thing is though, Rheumatology never takes any interest in someone's infectious history. They commonly draw bloods, only to check their Rheumatology workup (antibodies, complements, kidney function and so forth), which does not include your chronic infections profile. Neurologists always knew diseases associated with viruses and bacterial infections (commonly autoimmune diseases). Rheumatologists simply wouldn't seem to catch up on this awareness for some reason but they should really, given the close association (no secret about it). I am somewhat surprised that experts like DrSM would not take any interest in this type of research into etiology of GCA by working with researchers of infectious diseases. There have been several posts by people who had bacterial and viral infections relating to the evolution of GCA - mostly front-line medical professionals such as nurses, dentists, drs who experience regular exposure to infectious diseases by working with people so closely. After we reached a certain stage in our life where our immune balance starts to go wrong, something like GCA appears. My Neurologist tells me about GCA and issues with eyes. He tells me eyes are a common site for virus infection.