RT Book, Section
A1 Hellmann, David B.
A2 Imboden, John B.
A2 Hellmann, David B.
A2 Stone, John H.
SR Print(0)
ID 57273118
T1 Chapter 31. Takayasu Arteritis
T2 CURRENT Diagnosis & Treatment: Rheumatology, 3e
YR 2013
FD 2013
PB The McGraw-Hill Companies
PP New York, NY
SN 978-0-07-163805-0
LK accessmedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=57273118
RD 2024/04/23
AB Takayasu  arteritis,  named  for  the  Japanese  ophthalmologist  who  first  described  the  ocular  manifestations  in  1908,  is  a  large-vessel  vasculitis  of  unknown  cause  that  chiefly  affects  women  during  their  reproductive  years.  The  disease  often  presents  two  challenges.  First,  the  diagnosis  can  be  delayed  for  months  or  even  years  due  to  the  rarity  of  the  disease,  the  young  age  of  the  (typical)  patient,  and  the  protean  presenting  manifestations.  Second,  treatment  is  a  challenge.  Although  Takayasu  arteritis  is  a  chronic  disease,  it  usually  pursues  a  waxing  and  waning  course  that  requires  careful  monitoring  to  determine  when  the  disease  is  active  and  medical  therapy  is  needed.  Treatment  with  glucocorticoids  usually  succeeds  in  halting  progression  of  the  vasculitis.  Indeed,  because  of  the  advances  in  medical  therapy  and  surgical  treatment  of  vascular  complications,  such  as  aortic  regurgitation,  survival  of  patients  with  Takayasu  arteritis  has  increased  dramatically.