Identification of Takayasu's arteritis

Takayasu's arteritis is a rare inflammatory disease of the large blood vessels, mainly the aorta and its main branches, which can cause the walls to thicken and the vessels to narrow, so that blood flow to the arms, head or other organs is reduced. It is named after the Japanese ophthalmologist Mikito Takayasu, who described unusual changes in the retinal blood vessels of a young woman. Other doctors soon noticed that such patients often had weak or absent pulses in the arms, which led to the name pulseless disease. It occurs mostly in young women and is most common in Asia, though found worldwide. Treatment is with corticosteroids and other drugs that suppress the immune system, and sometimes surgery.

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