[Cardiac damage in Takayasu's arteritis. Study in 125 patients]

In order to asses the importance of cardiac damage in Takayasu's arteritis, 125 cases were studied and followed for 5.8 +/- 5.5 years. The arterial lesion involved the aorta and the principal abdominal branches in 10.4% of cases. Isolated lesions of the supraaortic vessels were present in 25.6% of cases. The rest of cases had obstructions in both arterial territories (64%). Cardiac damage was present in 82.4% of cases with the following manifestations: precordial murmurs (65%), cardiac enlargement (70%), heart failure (28%), angor pectoris (13.6%), abnormal electrocardiogram (60%): left ventricular hypertrophy (40.8%), right ventricular hypertrophy (8.8%) and conduction defects (12%). Aortic regurgitation secondary to enlargement of the aortic root was seen in 11.2%. Mitral incompetence due to left ventricular enlargement was documented in 13.6% of cases. In 2 patients rheumatic heart disease was associated to Takayasu's arteritis. Mortality was 4.8%; mostly due to congestive heart failure. The high incidence of cardiac damage was attributed to systemic arterial hypertension secondary to renovascular obstructions or coarctation of the aorta. Aortic and mitral regurgitation, pulmonary hypertension, and coronary arterial lesions contributed to cardiac damage.