title: Takayasu's arteritis: a review of the literature.
abstract: Takayasu's arteritis is a rare, idiopathic, chronic inflammatory disease with cell-mediated inflammation, involving mainly the aorta and its major branches. It leads to stenosis, occlusion or aneurysmal degeneration of large arteries. The clinical presentation is characterised by an acute phase with constitutional symptoms, followed, months or years later, by a chronic phase in which symptoms relate to fibrosis or occlusion of vessels. Angiography is the gold standard for diagnosis and for topographical classification and it correlates with symptoms and prognosis. Here we focus on the pathophysiology, clinical and angiographical classification, diagnostic assessment and therapeutic approach of Takayasu's arteritis.
authors.affiliation: Division of Medicine III, Department of Clinical Medicine and Immunological Medicine, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Maffei
authors.forename: Michela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Di Renzo
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bova
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Auteri
authors.forename: Anna Laura
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Pasqui
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D000792:Angiography; D000800:Angioplasty, Balloon; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D013625:Takayasu Arteritis / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy; D013997:Time Factors; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents