Dr Stéphanie Zwillinger is interviewed again by French weekly magazine Femme Actuelle to talk to you about Horton’s disease. This systemic disease will affect several different organs, including the ophthalmic artery. Continue reading to better understand this inflammatory pathology.
Who is affected by Horton’s disease?
Also called giant cell arteritis (GCA), Horton’s disease is an inflammation of the large arteries which affects:
- people over 50, especially over 70 years old;
- 3 in 4 women;
- 1 in 4 men.
This disease can affect the branches of the external carotid, ophthalmic and cerebral arteries. This is why this disease is feared for its ischemic ophthalmic complications: the person affected this disease can become visually impaired, with permanent blindness.
Our ophthalmologist Dr Stéphanie Zwillinger explains in this article the importance of being screened as early as possible: your ophthalmologist will be able to detect the warning signs of this inflammatory pathology.
How to detect Horton’s disease?
As said previously, this disease can be detected in ophthalmology. This inflammatory disease sets in gradually, which can lead the patient not to feel the pathology developing.
Here are some symptoms to be aware of:
- decreased visual acuity;
- diplopia (seeing double ) ;
- migraines ;
- transient amaurosis;
- pain and hypersensitivity in the temple…
The COP9 team now invites you to discover the entire Femme Actuelle article on Horton’s disease! You will find more symptoms there, but also the diagnosis, the evolution, and the possible treatment.