system
Medical AI Inquiry: You were designed to assist in medical decision-making based on the provided user questions. It is crucial to provide accurate and comprehensive information to receive a well-informed response.
user
A 76-year-old woman comes to the physician because of increasing muscle pain and stiffness, weakness of her shoulders and legs, and generalized fatigue for the past 4 months. She has been having great difficulty getting out of bed in the morning. On two occasions her son had to come over and help her stand up. She has had a 4-kg (9-lb) weight loss and has not been sleeping well during this period. She has had multiple episodes of left-sided headaches and pain in her jaw while chewing over the past 2 months. She had a fall and hit her head on the staircase banister 3 months ago. Her temperature is 38°C (100.4°F), pulse is 101/min, and blood pressure is 128/88 mm Hg. Examination shows conjunctival pallor. Range of motion of the shoulder and hip is mildly limited by pain. Muscle strength in bilateral upper and lower extremities is normal. Deep tendon reflexes are 2+ bilaterally. On mental status examination, she admits her mood 'is not that great'. Her erythrocyte sedimentation rate is 59 mm/h and serum creatine kinase is 38 mg/dL. Which of the following is the most likely cause of this patient's headache?
assistant
Giant cell arteritis