We report a patient with giant cell arteritis whose chief complaint was generalized headache. At the time of first presentation his erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein concentration were within the normal ranges. At follow-up three months later, he had sub-febrile fever and the temporal artery was tender on palpation. Both erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein concentration were raised and a biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of giant cell arteritis. We suggest that the erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein concentration should be routinely checked during follow-up of older patients with non-specific headache to help decide whether a biopsy should be taken

        Key words: giant cell arteritis, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, generalized headache