Takayasu's disease, also known as Takaysu's arteritis, is a rare and chronic inflammatory vascular disorder that primarily affects the aorta and its main branches as well as the pulmonary arteries and results in absent limb pulses and retinopathy. Features include cerebrovascular insufficiency (fainting, dizziness) and reduce peripheral pulses.
Acute progression of the disease can lead to destruction of the arterial media, formation of aneurysms, or arterial rupture. The first description of Takayasu’s disease was given in 1830 by Rokushu Yamamoto. He described a 45-year old man with fever, pulselessness, loss of weight, and breathlessness, who died in his 11th year of follow-up.
Takayasu's disease predominantly affects Asian females with an overall male-to-female ratio of 1 to 8.5. In the majority of cases, the age of onset is typically under 40, especially between 10 and 20 years of age.
Takayasu’s arteritis emerges in response to aortic burden, in addition to involvement of the aorta’s main branches, resulting in systemic vascular and potential immune response.
Because patients with early Takayasu’s arteritis may have nonspecific symptoms and because the disease is so rare, a doctor may not suspect Takayasu’s arteritis until symptoms of arterial narrowing develop. This could be months or even years into the course of the illness.
Takayasu's disease
