Arteritis is an inflammation of the arterial wall that can lead to stenosis or occlusion of the affected vessels. Symptoms vary and depend on the arteries involved. Diagnosis is based on multiple factors consisting of the size of the arteries involved, patient age, clinical symptoms and history, laboratory results (blood and/or biopsy), and diagnostic examination analysis. Sonography is a valuable diagnostic tool, especially in large artery involvement.
Hoffman GS, Ahmed AE: Surrogate markers of disease activity in patients with Takayasu arteritis: a preliminary report for the International Network for the Study of the Systemic Vasculitides (INSSYS). Intern J Cardiol1998; 66:191-194.
2.
Hoffman GS, Leavitt RY, Kerr GS, et al: Treatment of glucocorticoid-resistant or relapsing Takayasu arteritis with methotrexate. Arthritis Rheum1994;37(4):578-582.
3.
Takayasu’s Arteritis Foundation International. Accessed February 7, 2004, from http://www.takayasu.org
4.
Horvath JR, Hoffman GS: Systemic vasculitis: pitfalls in diagnosis and treatment. Hosp Med1997;58:10-28.
5.
On-line medical dictionary. Accessed March 15, 2004, from http://www.intelihealth.com
6.
Hellmann DB: Immunopathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of giant cell arteritis, temporal arteritis, polymyalgia rheumatica, and Takayasu’s arteritis. Rheumatology1993;5:25-32.
