INTRODUCTION

Giant cell arteritis (GCA) presents to all specialties due to its early non-specific initial symptoms. As new-onset headache is one of the principal symptoms of cranial GCA, neurologists often assess (and indeed may manage) people with this condition, in isolation from rheumatology.

The British Society of Rheumatology, which has been accredited by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence for guideline publication, recently updated their guideline for GCA. The previous version dated from 2010 was published before the routine use of ultrasound in GCA diagnosis and the advent of targeted immunotherapy treatment. The guideline group, including patients, methodologists and clinical experts in GCA, chose population, intervention comparator, and outcome questions to structure the systemic literature reviews. There were three broad reviews covering diagnostic imaging tests, management strategies and prognostic outcomes. The quality of evidence was assessed set out by Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation methodology to underpin their recommendations.^{1 2}

This article aims to highlight that neurologists require close liaison with rheumatology to serve patients with GCA best and may need to change their practice in light of these guidelines.