Temporal arteritis commonly presents with jaw claudication and scalp tenderness in patients over 50; which lab finding is often elevated?

Temporal arteritis commonly presents with jaw claudication and scalp tenderness in patients over 50; which lab finding is often elevated?

• A. Jaw claudication
• B. Age > 50
• C. Scalp tenderness
• D. Elevated ESR

Answer: (D)

Temporal arteritis triggers systemic inflammation, so a key lab finding is an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate. In patients over 50 who present with jaw claudication and scalp tenderness, a high ESR supports the diagnosis and helps prompt urgent treatment to protect vision. CRP is often elevated as well, reinforcing the inflammatory picture. The other items describe symptoms or age-related risk rather than a lab value, so they don’t answer which lab finding is typically raised. An elevated ESR is the classic laboratory clue in this condition.

Temporal arteritis triggers systemic inflammation, so a key lab finding is an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate. In patients over 50 who present with jaw claudication and scalp tenderness, a high ESR supports the diagnosis and helps prompt urgent treatment to protect vision. CRP is often elevated as well, reinforcing the inflammatory picture. The other items describe symptoms or age-related risk rather than a lab value, so they don’t answer which lab finding is typically raised. An elevated ESR is the classic laboratory clue in this condition.