Takayasu's disease

Takayasu's arteritis (TA) is a chronic inflammatory disease of unknown etiology that can produce stenosis, occlusion, or aneurysmal degeneration of large arteries. TA occurs worldwide but disproportionately affects young females of Asian descent. A variable acute phase of largely constitutional symptoms is followed by a chronic phase in which symptoms related to arterial compromise predominate. Diagnosis is made using a combination of clinical and angiographic criteria. Initial therapy involves the use of corticosteroids to induce remission of acute phase activity, with the addition of cytotoxic medications for nonresponders. Angioplasty and stenting can be used in the treatment of shorter stenoses such as those encountered in the renal arteries. Surgical bypass is the preferred treatment of longer segment stenoses and occlusions. Bypass grafts should originate from unaffected arteries to ensure durable inflow. Endovascular therapy is effective initially but long-term durability data are lacking.