Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is classified as a large vessel vasculitis according to the Chapel Hill nomenclature [1]. GCA is present worldwide but the reported incidence rates are highly variable depending on the location. The incidence is high in the North of Europe, especially in Norway (32.8/100,000 older than 50) or in North America (19.8/100,000 older than 50) [2,3] whereas the disease seems to be rare in North Africa [4] or in Japan (1.7/100,000 older than 50) [5]. Data from other areas are scarce.