What is the primary treatment for temporal arteritis?

The primary treatment for temporal arteritis, also known as giant cell arteritis, is high-dose corticosteroids. This condition is an inflammatory vasculitis that primarily affects the medium and large-sized arteries, which can lead to complications such as vision loss if not treated promptly. High-dose steroids are crucial because they help reduce inflammation rapidly and lower the risk of ischemic complications, including blindness.

Early initiation of treatment is essential, often even before a definitive diagnosis is confirmed through biopsy, if clinical suspicion is high, due to the risk of significant morbidity associated with delayed treatment. High-dose steroids effectively mitigate symptoms such as headache, jaw claudication, and systemic signs of inflammation.

In contrast, the other options presented do not address the underlying inflammation neccessary to treat temporal arteritis. Hydroxyurea is primarily used for myeloproliferative disorders, vancomycin is an antibiotic used for bacterial infections, and oral potassium chloride is a supplement for potassium deficiency. None of these options address the urgent inflammatory response seen in temporal arteritis, further underscoring the necessity of high-dose steroids as the primary corrective measure.