Takayasu Arteritis

About Takayasu Arteritis

The aorta is your largest artery, tasked with transporting blood from the heart to other major arteries throughout your body. Takayasu arteritis is a form of vasculitis (inflammatory vessel disease) that affects the aorta and its branches, resulting in decreased blood supply to your organ systems. The cause of Takayasu is uncertain, but certain people may be genetically predisposed to the condition.

Symptoms of Takayasu Arteritis

Symptoms of Takayasu arteritis vary and result from bodily tissues not receiving adequate blood supply.

Symptoms of Takayasu arteritis may include:

• Bruit (vascular murmur)
• Difference in blood pressure across extremities (arms or legs)
• Fever
  
• Headache
• Hypertension
• Joint paint

Risk Factors for Takayasu Arteritis

While Takayasu arteritis affects young people regardless of background or sex, it is more common in certain populations.

Risk factors for Takayasu arteritis may include:

• Age: The condition typically affects people between the ages of 15 and 40.
• Family history: Takayasu arteritis is more prevalent in people of Asian descent.
  
• Sex: The condition is more common in female patients.

Treating Takayasu Arteritis at UT Health Austin

Like all forms of vasculitis, corticosteroids like prednisone can be used to address the inflammation associated with Takayasu arteritis. Your physician may prescribe an immunosuppressant medication such as methotrexate, azathioprine, or mycophenolate mofetil. A biologic medication called infliximab may be used in severe cases.

Care Team Approach

At UT Health Austin, we take a multidisciplinary approach to your care. This means you will benefit from the expertise of multiple specialists across a variety of disciplines caring for you in one place. The Vasculitis Clinic care team includes rheumatologists, nurses, and medical assistants who work together to help you get back to the things in your life that matter most to you.

We collaborate with our colleagues at the Dell Medical School and The University of Texas at Austin to utilize the latest research, diagnostic, and treatment techniques, allowing us to develop the best treatment plan for you. Advanced imaging and lab testing are also available on-site if needed, including computed tomography angiography (CTA) and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA).

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