TAKAYASU'S ARTERITIS (PULSELESS DISEASE)

Takayasu’s arteritis is a rare type of vasculitis, or blood vessel inflammation. It affects the biggest arteries in your body. Takayasu's arteritis (also called Takayasu disease, pulseless disease or TAK) is an uncommon form of vasculitis or inflammation in your blood vessels. It affects your biggest arteries, like your aorta (the main blood vessel that leaves your heart) and arteries that branch off of your aorta and bring oxygenated blood from your heart to your body tissues.

CLINICAL FEATURES:

• Fever.
• Fatigue.
• Pain in your muscles or joints.
• Not much desire to eat.

LATER-STAGE OR SECOND-STAGE SYMPTOMS OF TAKAYASU’S ARTERITIS INCLUDE:

• Chest pain.
• Shortness of breath.
• Headaches.
• Dizziness.

Narrowing of blood vessels and reduced blood supply can cause:

• Fatigue, pain, or aching in your arms and legs.
• Belly pain from decreased blood flow to your intestines.
• High blood pressure from decreased blood flow to your kidneys.
• Stroke (rarely).
• Heart attack (rarely.)

INVESTIGATIONS

• C-reactive protein is elevated as part of acute phase response (nonspecific). • Duplex-Doppler ultrasound, MR angiography can diagnose the site of obstruction and blood flow pattern.