musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders
Takayasu Arteritis
Key Points
Takayasu arteritis is a rare arteritis affecting mostly women aged 15 to 30. Involvement of the aorta, pulmonary artery, and their branches can cause manifestations such as asymmetric pulses or BP measurements, limb claudication, symptoms of decreased cerebral perfusion (eg, transient visual disturbances, transient ischemic attacks, strokes), and hypertension (systemic and pulmonary) or its complications. Diagnose by magnetic resonance angiography or sometimes CT or conventional angiography. Treat with corticosteroids, other immunosuppressants,aspirin, and, when indicated, antihypertensive drugs. Refer patients for vascular intervention if, despite drug therapy, they have severe vascular complications (eg, end-organ ischemia; aortic dissection, coarctation, or insufficiency). 