Giant cell arteritis is associated with which of the following conditions?

• A. Temporal arteritis
• B. Polymyalgia rheumatica
• C. Rheumatoid arthritis
• D. Systemic lupus erythematosus

Answer: (B)

Giant cell arteritis often overlaps with polymyalgia rheumatica. Many patients with GCA will also have PMR features, such as aching and morning stiffness in the shoulders and hips, and PMR is a common presenting or accompanying syndrome in older adults with GCA. This connection matters because recognizing PMR signals the possibility of GCA and vice versa, guiding treatment with corticosteroids to control inflammation and reducing the risk of serious complications like vision loss from GCA. Temporal arteritis is simply another name for giant cell arteritis, so it isn’t considered an associated condition. Rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus are separate autoimmune diseases and aren’t the classic association tested here.