Giant cell arteritis (GCA) – previously known as Horton's disease or temporal arteritis – is the most common vasculitis affecting people older than 50 years [1]. GCA is characterized by granulomatous inflammation affecting large- and medium- sized arteries, leading to acute and chronic damage [2]. Apart from the clear-cut association with older age, other factors such as genetic variants in the major histocompatibility complex region, particularly the human leukocyte antigen DRB1*04:04, have been described to be related to the development of GCA [3].
