Takayasu's Arteritis

Exam Cram

• Takayasu's arteritis is an medium and large size arteriopathy of unknown aetiology, 

• Presentation:  Japanese ethnicity with weeks of claudication, weight loss & arthralgia; o/e: carotid bruit, absent pulses

• Diagnosis: angiography (CT/ MRI)

• Management: steroids

Outline

Background

• Inflammatory arteriopathy affecting aorta, carotid, coronary & renal arteries

• Occurs most commonly in Japan and South East Asia

Assessment

History

• Tiredness, weight loss, fevers, 

• Arthalgia, claudication

• Pleurisy, shortness of breath & haemoptysis

• Weeks to months 

Examination

• Carotid bruit

• BP difference between L & R arms

• Absent pulses

Investigations

• Anaemia

• AKI

• Raised CRP, ESR

• ECG: ischaemic changes

Diagnosis

Diagnostic criteria: angiography (CT/ MRI)

Management

Acute

1. High dose steroids

2. Steroid sparing- azathioprine, cyclophosphamide

References and Resources

1. Trinidad B, Surmachevska N, Lala V. Takayasu Arteritis. [Updated 2023 Aug 8]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK459127/

Written 2024