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Takayasu’s Disease Or Aortic Arch Syndrome: Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment

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What Is Takayasu’s Disease or Aortic Arch Syndrome?

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Takayasu’s Disease or Aortic Arch Syndrome is also known as Takayasu’s Arteritis. It is a disease condition in which there is chronic inflammation of the large blood vessels whose function is to dispense blood from heart. Another name given for this medical condition is vasculitis. This disease is most common in Asian females and is usually seen between age range of 10 to 30 years.

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What Is Takayasu’s Disease Or Aortic Arch Syndrome?
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What Are The Causes Of Takayasu’s Disease Or Aortic Arch Syndrome?

There is no known cause of Takayasu’s Disease or Aortic Arch Syndrome. Researchers believe that the immune system of certain individuals who have Takayasu’s Disease or Aortic Arch Syndrome is compromised and causes inflammation of the arteries.

What Are The Symptoms Of Takayasu Disease/Aortic Arch Syndrome?

Because of the inflammation of the arteries, there is inadequate blood supply to the tissues of the body resulting in painful and cold extremities along with the following symptoms:

Symptoms Of Takayasu Disease/Aortic Arch Syndrome

How Is Takayasu’s Disease Or Aortic Arch Syndrome Diagnosed?

When diagnosing Takayasu’s Disease or Aortic Arch Syndrome, the treating physician will observe hypertension in majority of the people with this condition. The physician can also listen to abnormal sounds of the blood moving through narrowed vessels. On a routine chest x-ray, there will be presence of minute indentations in the ribs at the back of chest. In order to confirm the diagnosis, the physician may also order blood tests which will reveal elevated sedimentation rate, which when present along with hypertension clearly pinpoints to Takayasu’s Disease or Aortic Arch Syndrome. In this disease, the individual also suffers from anemia. The test which pinpoints the diagnosis of Takayasu’s Disease or Aortic Arch Syndrome is angiogram of the arteries which clearly shows narrowing

What Are The Treatments For Takayasu’s Disease Or Aortic Arch Syndrome?

The main aim of treatment for Takayasu’s Disease or Aortic Arch Syndrome is to curtail the inflammation and this is done with steroids like prednisone or prednisolone. Although majority of individuals improve with this treatment, but there are quite a few people who do not respond to steroids or have a tendency to relapse. In people who are resistant to steroid, medications which suppress the immune system are used. Some of these medications are methotrexate, cyclosporine, Cytoxan, and Imuran. In people with Takayasu’s Disease or Aortic Arch Syndrome, it is imperative that strict control of blood pressure is maintained. In cases when there is acute narrowing of the vessels, surgical procedures in the form of angioplasty with stent placement may be required.

Living With Takayasu’s Disease Or Aortic Arch Syndrome

People living with Takayasu’s Disease or Aortic Arch Syndrome often requires long-term treatment. Few of the people suffering from this condition may be asymptomatic or may experience very mild symptoms but few may require surgery. People living with Takayasu’s Disease or Aortic Arch Syndrome are likely to experience side effects of medications like glucocorticoids and there is also a risk of infection in those who are on immunosuppressants.

Despite being treated there is a chance of relapse and so it is advisable to go for regular checkups.

Like mentioned earlier, it is important to have a strict control over blood pressure but the BP readings may not be correct due to blocked arteries in the arm so the treating physician may opt to measure your blood pressure in the legs.

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Takayasu’s Disease or Aortic Arch Syndrome can best be treated by a Rheumatologist or Cardiologist or a Vascular Surgeon.

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Team PainAssist
Team PainAssist
Written, Edited or Reviewed By: Team PainAssist, Pain Assist Inc. This article does not provide medical advice. See disclaimer
Last Modified On:August 11, 2022

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