What is takayaso artheritis?

• This inflammatory disease often affects the ascending aorta and aortic arch, causing obstruction of the aorta and its major arteries. • It also may involve the descending thoracic and abdominal aorta and occlude large branches such as the renal arteries. • The pathology is a panarteritis characterized by mononuclear cells and occasionally giant cells， with marked intimal hyperplasia，medial and adventitial thickening， and， in the chronic form，fibrotic occlusion. • During the acute stage， fever， malaise， weight loss， and other systemic symptoms may be evident. Elevations of the erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein are common. • The chronic stages of the disease， which is intermittently active，present with symptoms related to large artery occlusion， such as upper extremity claudication， cerebral ischemic and syncope. • The process is progressive， and there is no definitive therapy. • Glucocorticoids and immunosuppressive agents are effective in some patients during the acute phase. • Surgical bypass or endovascular intervention of a critically stenotic artery may be necessary