Cerebrovascular manifestations of Takayasu arteritis in Europe

Takayasu arteritis is well known as a cause of stroke in Asia but has rarely been described in the Western world. Here we report the clinical and neuroimaging follow-up of a series of patients with Takayasu arteritis from Europe.

Seventeen consecutive patients who fulfilled the diagnostic criteria for Takayasu arteritis of the American College of Rheumatology were evaluated on follow-up by standardized neurological examination, sonography and MRI.

At follow-up almost 20 yr after onset of symptoms, the subclavian artery and the common carotid artery were often affected. In addition, evidence of intracranial pathology was found in seven patients. In contrast to the severe vessel involvement, the neurological state was stable. Two patients had suffered from stroke before the diagnosis was made and therapy was initiated, and one patient had recurrent transient ischaemic attacks. Intermittent dizziness was associated with pathology of the vertebral and basilar arteries. However, clinical symptoms of subclavian steal syndrome were rare.

This case series shows that the clinical neurological course of Takayasu arteritis on treatment is benign in most cases despite the severe vascular involvement.