Giant cell arteritis and angiogenesis: a review.

Giant cell arteritis is a vasculitis of large and medium sized arteries with variable clinical presentations. Arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy is the most common cause of visual loss from giant cell arteritis and the ischemia related to this process is presumed to be secondary to luminal stenosis from intimal hyperplasia. This process has been found to be initiated and promoted by various inflammatory and pro-angiogenic factors.