Table 1 “Red flags” on history or physical examination that may suggest GCA

Typical cranial disease

 New onset headache (mainly temporal)

 Scalp pain

 Jaw or tongue claudication

 Acute visual deficits

 Temporal artery abnormalities on physical examination

 Anterior ischemic optic neuropathy or central retinal artery occlusion on ophthalmologic examination

 Associated constitutional symptoms

 Associated polymyalgia rheumatica symptoms

 Associated anemia an elevated C reactive protein/erythrocyte sedimentation rate

Extra-cranial disease

 Ischemic signs and symptoms of extremities, especially in the absence of other cardiovascular risk factors or emboligenic cardiopathy:

  Limb claudication

  Pulse asymmetry

  Arterial pressure asymmetry

  Peripheral arterial bruits

  Distal necrosis or gangrene

 Non-specific manifestations without evidence of infectious o neoplastic disease:

  Fever

  Weight loss

  Fatigue/malaise

  Unexplained anemia

 Polymyalgia rheumatica that relapses or responds poorly to standard glucocorticoid therapy

 Polymyalgia rheumatica with associated ischemic manifestations

 Detection of aneurysm or dissection of aorta and main branches along with raised inflammatory markers