Giant cell arteritis: ● important possible late complications: blindness, stroke, thoracic aortic aneurysms, and aortic dissections

Complications of steroid therapy occur in ≈ 50% of patients. Most are not life threatening, and include vertebral compression fractures in ≈ 36%, peptic ulcer disease in ≈ 12%, proximal myopathy, cataracts, exacerbation of diabetes…

30–50% of patients will have spontaneous exacerbations of giant cell arteritis (especially during the first 2 years) regardless of the corticosteroid regimen.

Survival parallels that of the general population. The onset of blindness after initiation of steroid therapy is rare.