Takayasu arteritis in Thailand

Abstract

Takayasu arteritis is a disease of world-wide distribution. Geographic difference in sex incidence, anatomical distribution, and the type of lesion is observed. Hypertension is very common in the present series, as well as in combination with absent or deficit of peripheral pulses. These symptoms correlate well with arteriographic findings of brachiocephalic and renal artery obstructive lesion. While aneurysm and stenotic lesions have a predilection in the abdominal aorta, stenotic lesion of the thoracic aorta occurs more commonly than aneurysm. However, aneurysm of the aorta as well as of the brachiocephalic arteries is seen more frequently than in the reports, of others. The presence of "funnel-shape" resulting from renal artery obstructive lesion and dilatation or aneurysm of contiguous aorta was characteristic of Takayasu arteritis in our series. The material presented in this report reflects not only geographic variation but also the severe form of this disease. Total aortography, coronary arteriography and pulmonary arteriography, are of value not only for the diagnosis of Takayasu arteritis but also for demonstration of anatomical distribution, severity and type of lesion.