Investigations

• Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR) is raised in the overwhelming majority of cases. This means that the red blood cells separate out from the blood plasma at a faster rate than normal, and this indicates inflammation in the body. However, other causes of a raised ESR need to be excluded, such as infection.
• C- reactive protein (CRP) is also usual.
• Mild liver function abnormalities
• Mild anaemia
• Consider temporal artery biopsy

Amended November 2008