[Takayasu's arteritis: vascular investigations and therapeutic management. Experience with 16 patients]

There is no consensus in regard to vascular explorations and therapeutical management of Takayasu's arteritis. The objective of this study was therefore to establish the most appropriate vascular explorations and to analyze current treatments.

Clinical, biological and morphological findings related to either diagnosis or treatment were retrospectively evaluated in sixteen patients diagnosed with Takayasu's arteritis according to the American College of Rheumatology criteria.

Median delay between the occurrence of the first symptoms and the diagnosis was 9 months. Aortic lesions and aortic valvular incompetence were more frequent. Statistical analysis showed the existence of a correlation between the lack of relapse and corticosteroid therapy (Fisher exact test, P = 0.021). Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty led to stabilization of vascular lesions. Surgical management led to satisfactory results, except for patients with aortic lesions, as survival was then less than 1 year.

Early diagnosis is mandatory in patients with Takayasu's arteritis in order to propose appropriate therapy, particularly corticosteroid therapy. Surgery and angioplasty prove to be useful in occlusive forms. Late diagnosis is accompanied by severe aortic lesions and fatal outcome.