Disease Directory Takayasu Arteritis
Immune

Takayasu Arteritis

Also known as: pulseless disease, aortic arch syndrome, Takayasu disease

Prevalence

1-2 in 1,000,000 in Western countries; higher in East Asia

Onset

Young adulthood; predominantly women aged 10-40

Type

Large vessel granulomatous vasculitis

About Takayasu Arteritis

Takayasu Arteritis is a chronic granulomatous vasculitis predominantly affecting the aorta and its major branches, causing transmural inflammation that leads to stenosis, occlusion, or aneurysm formation with resulting limb and organ ischemia. The disease disproportionately affects young women, particularly of Asian descent, and follows a biphasic course with an early inflammatory phase and a later fibrotic obliterative phase in which vascular damage may progress despite suppressed systemic inflammation. Biological therapies targeting IL-6 and TNF have emerged as important steroid-sparing agents in refractory disease.

Common Clinical Features

Absent or diminished upper limb pulses with blood pressure discrepancy Limb claudication (arm and leg) Hypertension from renal artery stenosis Carotidynia and neck pain Visual disturbances and retinal ischemia Constitutional symptoms (fever, weight loss, fatigue) in active phase Aortic regurgitation and heart failure from aortic root involvement

Clinical Trial Eligibility Tips

What to know before applying to Takayasu Arteritis trials.

Disease activity assessment using NIH or ITAS criteria is required for most trials; imaging confirmation (MR or CT angiography, PET-CT) of active vessel inflammation is typically mandatory at screening

IL-6 inhibitor trials (tocilizumab) require documented inadequate response to corticosteroids; compile steroid dose history, duration, and relapse pattern

Renal function impairment from renovascular hypertension can affect drug dosing eligibility; provide recent estimated GFR and renal imaging results

Patient Resources

Patient Organization

Vasculitis Foundation

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Natural History Registry

A.R.T.A. Registry

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Orphanet

European reference resource for rare diseases (ORPHA:3287)

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NORD

National Organization for Rare Disorders

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Find recruiting Takayasu Arteritis trials

Search 500,000+ studies from ClinicalTrials.gov, filtered for Takayasu Arteritis. Updated daily.

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