GCA and TA

 Q: Renovascular hypertension is more common in? (select one) 

A) Giant Cell Arteritis (GCA) 

B) Takayasu Arteritis (TA) 

Answer: B

The objective of this question is to emphasize the significance of clinical signs as well as epidemiology in the differential diagnosis. Histopathologic, as well as radiographic features, are indistinguishable in GCA and TA. The two major establishing factors are age and clinical presentation. 

GCA almost always occurs after the age of 50 whereas TA almost always occurs at a younger age and never after the age of 40. Renovascular hypertension is common in TA but not a part of GCA. Conversely, vision loss due to anterior ischemic optic neuropathy does not occur in TA but is a cardinal feature of GCA.

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Reference:

Stamatis P. Giant Cell Arteritis versus Takayasu Arteritis: An Update. Mediterr J Rheumatol. 2020;31(2):174-182. Published 2020 Jun 30. doi:10.31138/mjr.31.2.174