It affects about 1 out of 750 people over 50 years old. It is rare in people of African descent. There is some evidence for a familial pattern of developing the disorder. Signs And Tests Palpation of the head shows scalp sensitivity and often shows a tender, thick, palpable artery on one side of the head. The affected artery may have a weakened pulse or no pulse .
Blood tests are nonspecific.
A hemoglobin or hematocrit may be normal or low. Liver function tests may be abnormal if the disorder is systemic . Alkaline phosphatase may be elevated. A biopsy and analysis of tissue from the affected artery show changes that confirm the diagnosis of cerebral vasculitis in most cases. Corticosteroids such as Prednisone are commonly prescribed to reduce inflammation.