Takayasu arteritis: a review

• Published in: Journal of clinical pathology Vol. 55; no. 7; pp. 481 - 486
• Main Authors: Johnston, S L, Lock, R J, Gompels, M M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Association of Clinical Pathologists 01-07-2002; BMJ; BMJ Publishing Group Ltd; BMJ Publishing Group LTD; Copyright 2002 Journal of Clinical Pathology
• Subjects: Abdomen; Abnormalities; ACR; Age; American College of Rheumatology; Aneurysms; Aorta; arteritis; Biological and medical sciences; Blood pressure; C reactive protein; Carotid arteries; Coronary vessels; CRP; Diagnosis, Differential; Dyspnea; erythrocyte sedimentation rate; ESR; Females; HLA; human leucocyte antigen; Humans; Hypertension; Inflammation; interleukin; Ischemia; magnetic resonance angiography; Medical imaging; Medical sciences; MRA; pathogensis; Pulmonary arteries; Review; Sarcoidosis. Granulomatous diseases of unproved etiology. Connective tissue diseases. Elastic tissue diseases. Vasculitis; Syphilis; Takayasu; Takayasu Arteritis - diagnosis; Takayasu Arteritis - drug therapy; Takayasu Arteritis - immunology; Takayasu's arteritis; treatment; Tuberculosis; Vein & artery diseases; United States; United Kingdom > UK; Asia; Japan; Human; Pathogenesis; Cardiovascular disease; Review; Differential diagnostic; Vascular disease; Pathology; Symptomatology; Vasculitis; Immunology; Treatment; Systemic disease; Clinical investigation; Diagnosis; Bibliographic review; Takayashu arteritis
• ISSN: 0021-9746; 1472-4146
• DOI: 10.1136/jcp.55.7.481

Takayasu arteritis is a well known yet rare form of large vessel vasculitis. This review details the history, clinical features, differential diagnoses, classification, and immunology of the disorder. Suppression of inflammation and preservation of vascular competence are the aims of treatment. As with any rare disease, randomised controlled treatment trials are either lacking or based on small patient numbers, making management decisions difficult. Current evidence based treatments are presented and discussed.