Takayasu's Arteritis

Key points

• Large vessel vasculitis causing occlusion of the aorta — questions commonly refer to an absent limb pulse · more common in females and Asian people
• Features: systemic vasculitis (malaise, headache) · unequal blood pressure in the upper limbs · carotid bruit · intermittent claudication
• Aortic regurgitation is seen in around 20% of patients (early diastolic murmur)
• Associations: renal artery stenosis · management: steroids