Diagnosis and treatment of Takayasu arteritis

Martyna Šopauskienė1, Rugilė Dubickaitė1, Julius Piluckis1

1Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Academy of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine

Abstract

Takayasu arteritis is a chronic, granulomatous disease of large-vessels vasculitis. It is a rare disease which occurs most commonly among young 20-30 year old females. Takayasu arteritis affects the aorta and its primary branches, leading to stenosis, occlusion or aneurism.  Carotidynia, weight loss, fatigue, limb claudication, absent or weak peripheral pulse, hypertension, the difference in blood pressure between arms are the symptoms of occurring with Takayasu arteritis. Neurological symptoms such as orthostatic hypotension, dizziness, temporary loss of vision can also occur. In rare cases, the disease manifest with myocardial infarction or cerebrovascular accident. Imaging tests show artery wall thickening, calcification and artery stenosis. Takayasu arteritis is initially treated with glucocorticoids and disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs. In some cases the surgical approach is possible.

Keywords: takayasu arteritis, large-vessel vasculitis, vasculitis, rheumatology.