Takayasu arteritis

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Heart, section through the middle

Pulseless disease

Treatment of Takayasu arteritis is difficult, but results with appropriate therapy are encouraging. Early detection is important. Steroids and immunosuppressive agents form the cornerstone of treatment, with surgery reserved for complications caused by narrowed arteries.

Surgery to bypass narrowed arteries may be necessary to supply blood beyond the constriction.

This disease can be fatal. However, with a combination of aggressive medical and surgical therapy, mortality (death) rates have dropped dramatically. In well-managed cases of Takayasu arteritis, the long-term survival rate is greater than 90%.

• Pericarditis
• Pleuritis
• Myocardial infarction (heart attack)

Call your health care provider if you have symptoms of this condition. Weak pulse, chest pain, and breathing difficulty require immediate care.

Review Date: 05/03/2006
Reviewed By: Steve Lee, DO, Rheumatology Fellow, Loma Linda University Medical Center, Loma Linda, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.