A 75-year-old woman presents with new unilateral temporal headache, scalp tenderness and jaw claudication. She reports recent weight loss and malaise....

Question

A 75-year-old woman presents with new unilateral temporal headache, scalp tenderness and jaw claudication. She reports recent weight loss and malaise. Visual acuity is slightly reduced in one eye. ESR and CRP are markedly elevated. What is the most appropriate immediate management?

Accepted Answer

Commence high-dose oral prednisolone immediately and arrange urgent temporal artery biopsy

Answer

Await temporal artery biopsy results before starting treatment

Answer

Start low-dose aspirin only

Answer

Start methotrexate monotherapy

Answer

Reassure and review in 2 weeks

au-racp MCQ (SBA): Giant cell arteritis

A 75-year-old woman presents with new unilateral temporal headache, scalp tenderness and jaw claudication. She reports recent weight loss and malaise. Visual acuity is slightly reduced in one eye. ESR and CRP are markedly elevated. What is the most appropriate immediate management?