Any GCA patient with carotid artery involvement?

[Blurry62]

Diagnosed Feb. 2018

Had MRA done Jan 2020

Another Jan 2021 - this time showing thickening of internal left carotid. So when, in the course of prednisone did this occur? I ask myself.

I'll be following up with cardiologist in two weeks.

Cholesterol has been ruled out. Levels are perfect. Doppler scheduled for next week.

In wondering what your thoughts are on this. I'm on 7 mg of prednisone.

[Janstr]

This is interesting as at the GP appointment where I was diagnosed with gCA, symptoms I went with were jaw claudication, headache that I’d had for over 2 weeks & wouldn’t go away, tender scalp as well as pMR symptoms. I also had what I thought was a lump in my neck, that the dr said was on the carotid artery . He wasn’t worried about it & neither was rheumatologist I saw a few days later. So in my case, if it was anything to do with GCA , it was pre prednisone. It has gone now

[Blurry62 in reply to Janstr]

This is interesting, too. What I've found through research of my own is that carotid involvement is approximately 16 % of GCA patients. Have you ever had an MRA to monitor your aorta and carotids? The internal carotid carries blood to the brain. Annual MRAs of pelvic and thoracic aorta is GCA protocol where I'm treated.

[jinasc in reply to Blurry62]

Yes I agree interesting. 18 months into GCA then Aorta and Pulmonary arteries checked yearly. This is in the guidelines as far as I remember. Getting on a bit with remembering.

Might be worth having a read - pinned post right hand side.

[Janstr in reply to jinasc]

Thanks both of you

[Janstr in reply to Janstr]

Which pinned post?

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Janstr]

This one

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

Next to the heading Pinned posts it says See all> (in blue on my screen) which brings up the whole list.

[Janstr in reply to PMRpro]

Thankyou

[Jura1959]

Hi Blurry62,Sorry to hear of your experience with prednisolone I have been on for a long while now having been on relatively high doses then reducing down gradually untill on zero but unfortunately for me each time I make it too Zero it all appears to start all over again.

At presentsince the last flare I am now back down too 1mg and managing reasonably well and thinking that maybe 1mg is my maintenance level dose most probably for the rest of my days.

Hope this is of some use too you.