The term "Takayasu's disease" should be abolished

Area of Science:

• Vascular Medicine
• Medical Terminology
• Ophthalmology

Background:

• The original case described by Takayasu differs significantly from the current understanding of "Takayasu's disease."
• The established disease exhibits systemic abnormalities, unlike the original report focusing on regional blood flow.
• The term "Takayasu's disease" was applied without thorough literature review and was not of Takayasu's own choosing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To differentiate the original case report from the established "Takayasu's disease."
• To advocate for the abolition of the term "Takayasu's disease."
• To propose a more accurate and established term for the condition.

Main Methods:

• Comparative analysis of the original Takayasu case report with current medical literature.
• Historical review of medical terminology and nomenclature.
• Literature search for established terms and etiological understanding.

Main Results:

• The original Takayasu case report details regional vascular abnormalities without systemic involvement.
• The currently accepted "Takayasu's disease" encompasses broader constitutional and systemic symptoms.
• The term "Takayasu's disease" lacks historical accuracy and proper attribution.

Conclusions:

• The term "Takayasu's disease" should be discontinued due to its inaccurate and misleading nature.
• The condition characterized by aortic arch arteriostenosis and multifactorial etiology should be referred to by its established name.
• The proposed term "aortic arch arteriostenosis syndrome" (Okamura 1938, Yui 1943) accurately reflects the condition's pathology and history.