Definition:
Takayasu arteritis (TA) is classically defined as a chronic, progressive, occlusive, inflammatory disease of the aorta and its branches. The pulmonary arteries may also be concerned. Takayasu arteritis is a systemic disease that can have isolated, atypical, and catastrophic manifestations.
Diagnosis:
The doctor can find elevated blood pressure in over 50%lf of the patients with Takayasu disease. Abnormal sounds of blood movement through blood vessels can occaionally be heard with a stethoscope. Small notches in the ribs of the back of the chest have sometimes been found on routine chest x-rays and are felt to be a result of abnormal pulsations of blood vessels in these areas.
Treatment:
Takayasu disease can be treated by suppressing the inflammation with cortisone medication. While most patients can improve, some do not or end up relapsing.
Symptoms and Signs:
The inflammation of the aorta and its branch arteries can result to poor blood supply to tissues of the body in patients with Takayasu disease. This can lead to painful, cool or blanched extremities, dizziness, headaches, chest pain, and abdominal pain. Other early symptoms can include weight loss fatigue, and low-grade fever.
Causes:
Takayasu arteritis is thought to be an autoimmune disease with no known cause. Genetic factors may be involved in the pathogenesis of Takayasu arteritis, with a possible major histocompatibility complex linkage.
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