Vascular and Ocular Complications of Takayasu's Arteritis

Abstract

Takayasu's arteritis is a relatively rare chronic systemic
inammatory condition resulting in large vessel vasculitis
primarily involving the aorta and its branches . The highest
incidences has been reported to be between 2 – 3 per million
population annually in the United States and 4.7 per million
population annually in the United Kingdom(U.K) .
A c c o r d i n g t o U . K G e n e r a l P r a c t i c e R e s e a r c h
Database(UKGPRD) a total of 14 cases were registered
within a 5 year period, which comprises of 13 females and
one male . The highest prevalence was reported by the
Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, which
had reported about 7779 cases and registered 1372 in its'
welfare scheme between April 2001and March 2011 , with
an annual incidence of 40 per million population .
It is of unknown aetiology and most commonly affects
young females of childbearing age with a reported
prevalence of 85% , usually less than 50 years, which
accounts for about 90% of reported cases in Japan .
The aetiology of Takayasu's arteritis has not yet been fully
elucidated, however, different hypothesis have been
proposed which include infectious causes (such as
spirochetes, mycobacterium tuberculosis, and streptococcal
organism) . Although there is proposed association between
Takayasu's arteritis and tuberculosis, in which most patients
with Takayasu's arteritis have high prevalence of present or
past history of tuberculosis , however this association has
not been fully elucidated . Circulating auto-antibodies (like
antimycobacterial heat shock protein 65, anti-endothelial
cells, anti-cardiolipin, and anti-aorta antibodies) and
genetic factors such as HLA-BW52, HLA-B35, B39 and
B40 have been described .