Takayasu arteritis

Takayasu arteritis Takayasu arteritis is an inflammatory disorder affecting aorta and its major branches. It is also known as aortoarteritis and pulseless disease [1]. Arteritis leads to thickening of vessel wall, fibrosis, stenosis and thrombus formation. Severe inflammation may weaken the arterial media and lead to aneurysm formation [2]. Takayasu was an ophthalmologist, who noted characteristic fundal arteriovenous anastomoses in a young female in 1905 and published it in Acta of the Opthalmic Society of Japan in 1908 (12:554–5). Onishi and Kagosha described similar cases associated with absent radial pulses in the same year [1].  A study by Lupi-Herrera E et al reported 107 cases over a 19 year period [3]. In their series, females were predominantly involved (8.5:1). Acute inflammatory phase with systemic and cardiovascular symptoms were noted in half of the cases. 65% had supra aortic trunks and abdominal aortic involvement (Type III in the classification prevalent then). Reduction in amplitude of peripheral pulses was noted in 96%, vascular bruit in 94%, hypertension in 72% and renal artery stenosis in 62%. Heart failure was noted in 28%, but rarely due to coronary arteritis. 48% had previous or current active tuberculosis. Another natural history study published in 1989 had 88 patients [4]. The cumulative survival of Takayasu arteritis at 5 years was 91% of which event free survival was 74.9%. Ten year survival of Takayasu’s arteritis was 84% of which 64% was...
Source: Cardiophile MD - Category: Cardiology Authors: Tags: Cardiology Source Type: blogs