Arteritis is a vascular disorder characterized by inflammation of the walls of arteries, usually as a result of infection or autoimmune responses. Arteritis, a complex disorder, is still not entirely understood. Arteritis may be distinguished by its different types, based on the organ systems affected by the disease. Similar symptoms may be caused by a number of other conditions, such as Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and Marfan syndrome (both heritable disorders of connective tissue), tuberculosis, syphilis, spondyloarthropathies, Cogans' syndrome, Buerger's, Behcet's, and Kawasaki disease. including aorta and arch branches || Histiocytes, giant cells e.g. those supplying the head, eyes and optic nerves || Lymphocytes, macrophages, and multinucleated giant cells
Giant cell arteritis
Giant cell arteritis contains two different types of arteritides that are almost indistinguishable from one another. Temporal arteritis has a higher incidence in people of Scandinavian descent.
Polyarteritis nodosa of unknown mechanism can cause testicular pain. It is often associated with aneurysms and Hepatitis B.
Treatment
Medications
The first-line treatment for arteritis is oral glucocorticoid (steroid) medication, such as prednisone, taken daily for a period of three months. Immunosuppressive pulse therapy, such as with cyclophosphamide, has also demonstrated relief of symptoms associated with arteritis.