April 2020

Losing your vision, either partially or entirely, can be deeply distressing. It can limit your independence, affect your mobility, and make it challenging to maintain employment. Depending on the extent of your sight loss, adjusting to this new reality may involve significant lifestyle changes and expenses.

If your vision loss was caused by medical negligence, you have up to three years from the incident to bring a claim. At Tees, our experienced medical negligence solicitors can guide you through the process.

With prompt diagnosis and treatment, Giant Cell Arteritis (GCA) is a manageable and often curable condition. However, untreated GCA can lead to serious complications, including irreversible vision loss.

Sarah Stocker, a solicitor specialising in GCA claims at Tees, explains the symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and treatment of this often-overlooked condition.

What is Giant Cell Arteritis (Temporal Arteritis)?

Giant Cell Arteritis (GCA) is the most common form of vasculitis in adults, primarily affecting those over the age of 50. The name refers to the large or “giant” cells that can be seen when inflamed arteries are examined under a microscope.

GCA mainly affects the arteries in the temples but can impact other arteries throughout the body.

Symptoms of Giant Cell Arteritis

The symptoms of GCA can vary depending on which arteries are affected. Common symptoms include:

Severe, recurring headaches
Tenderness over the temples
Scalp sensitivity, especially when brushing hair
Jaw pain while eating or talking
Vision disturbances such as double vision or loss of vision in one or both eyes

Other general symptoms include:

Fatigue and weakness
Fever
Unintended weight loss
Shoulder, hip, and neck pain
Depression

If you experience any of these symptoms, particularly sudden vision loss, seek medical attention immediately.

Causes of Giant Cell Arteritis

The exact cause of GCA remains unknown, and there are no well-established risk factors. However, it is most commonly seen in individuals over the age of 50 and may be linked to the immune system mistakenly attacking healthy blood vessels.

Diagnosing Giant Cell Arteritis

A diagnosis of GCA usually involves:

Physical examination: A doctor will check for tenderness over the temples and may identify a weakened pulse in the arteries.
Blood tests: Inflammation markers like Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR) or C-reactive protein (CRP) may indicate GCA.
Ophthalmologist referral: An eye specialist may conduct a thorough examination to check for optic nerve damage.
Ultrasound or biopsy: A temporal artery biopsy may be performed to confirm the presence of giant cells.

Prompt diagnosis is essential to prevent permanent vision loss.

Treatment for Giant Cell Arteritis

Steroid Medication, typically prednisolone, is the primary treatment for GCA. Due to the risk of vision loss, treatment often starts before test results are confirmed.

Initial High-Dose Steroids: Administered for several weeks to control symptoms.
Long-Term Management: The dosage is gradually reduced, sometimes over several years.
Ongoing Monitoring: Some individuals may require lifelong maintenance treatment.

Prognosis for Giant Cell Arteritis

With early diagnosis and appropriate treatment, the outlook for GCA is generally positive. However, if vision loss has occurred, it is usually irreversible.

Most complications arise from the long-term use of steroids, rather than the condition itself.

How We Can Help

At Tees, our medical negligence solicitors are dedicated to supporting you through every step of your claim. We will listen to your story, assess your case, and provide clear, honest advice on your options. Our goal is to secure the best possible outcome for you.

Three new female partners have swelled the senior ranks at Tees Law, a Top 200 law firm with offices in Bishop’s Stortford, Brentwood, Cambridge, Chelmsford, Royston, and Saffron Walden. Letty Glaister, Eleanor Burroughs, and Kay Piper’s promotions to the partnership mean that female lawyers now comprise the majority of the firm’s partners. In a profession where women typically occupy less than a third of partnership roles, Tees is leading the way in supporting female lawyers to access senior positions and progress in their careers.

Commitment to diversity and equality

Tees’ head of HR, Amy O’Brien, commented: “Tees encourages and values diversity and is committed to equality for its entire staff. Fifty-three percent of partners at Tees are women, and having such a balanced split works really well for us. Each partner, be they male or female, brings different strengths and qualities to the team and contributes to driving the company forward. These principles of equality of opportunity and non-discrimination also extend to the manner in which our employees interact with our clients, our business partners, and our visitors.”

Kay Piper’s vision for commercial property

Kay Piper is head of Tees’ commercial property department in the Bishop’s Stortford office. Speaking of her appointment, Kay says: “I am looking forward to increasing the team’s presence and connections within the community, reaching out to build local awareness of Tees’ expertise in commercial property matters. I am also very keen to further develop a collaborative team within Tees, ensuring that we work together to deliver a joined-up service for our clients. Whilst the entire Tees team is currently working from home, we’re still working hard to keep connected with our clients and to each other. We’re actually finding that we’re communicating more than ever.”

Letty Glaister’s rural community focus

Letty Glaister, who heads up the Royston office, hopes to further strengthen her relationships within the rural community and cement Tees as the law firm of choice for farming clients throughout Hertfordshire and Essex. “It’s really important that our clients trust us implicitly, and that can only be achieved by making a real effort to strengthen our links with the surrounding community, especially during these difficult times when many rural families are feeling concerned and isolated due to social distancing measures,” she says. “Particularly in the rural world, maintaining close relationships is vital as we are dealing with farms that have been in families for generations, meaning that emotions can run high for all concerned.”

Eleanor Burroughs’ commitment to Saffron Walden

Eleanor Burroughs, who has been working at Tees’ Saffron Walden office for 11 years, heads up its residential property department. In addition to her partnership promotion, she has also been promoted to head of the Saffron Walden office, effective from April. Going forward as a partner, Eleanor says she is “looking forward to maintaining the close links we have worked so hard to build up with the local community, and to building the Tees brand.”

A message from the group managing director

Ashton Hunt, group managing director at Tees, is delighted by the three new partners’ success: “At Tees, we have always been assiduous in ensuring our female solicitors are supported in progression to senior roles. Letty, Eleanor, and Kay have all consistently demonstrated their excellence in their fields and commitment to our firm during their time here. Whilst leading their teams remotely during these challenging times, they continue to deliver a consistently excellent service to their clients. Their promotion to partner is thoroughly well deserved.”