Complications Of Takayasu's Arteritis To Watch Out For

Takayasu's arteritis is a rare vasculitis disease. Vasculitis disorders cause blood vessels to become inflamed. Patients with Takayasu's arteritis experience damage to the aorta, which is one of the most important in the body, as it is responsible for carrying blood from the heart throughout the body. Depending on the symptom progression, patients may end up with blocked or narrow arteries, and they may also have weakened artery walls. Most patients require medications to help reduce arterial inflammation and prevent potential complications. Though the disease can be managed through medication and healthy lifestyle choices, complications can be severe and even life-threatening.

Transient Ischemic Attack

Takayasu's arteritis can often occur in cycles or episodes. Even when managed with medication, patients may find their symptoms appearing and disappearing. When the arteries experience repeated periods of inflammation, followed by periods of healing, multiple complications can occur, one of which is a transient ischemic attack. Transient ischemic attacks are strokes that last for just a few minutes. The symptoms mirror those of a standard stroke, but they don't last as long. Transient ischemic attacks are caused by a temporary blockage of blood supply to the brain.

Takayasu's arteritis can cause this by blocking the aorta or its branches, which can, in turn, cause the brain to be temporarily deprived of a fresh blood supply. Unlike a stroke, the majority of symptoms go away within twenty-four hours rather than being permanent. However, it's not possible to tell the difference between a transient ischemic attack and stroke while the event is occurring. Transient ischemic attack symptoms always warrant a trip to the hospital. Though this event rarely causes permanent damage, it could be a warning sign more severe strokes will occur in the future.

Aortic Aneurysm

An aortic aneurysm occurs when the wall of the aorta has an abnormal bulge. Aneurysms can occur anywhere along the aorta and take a variety of shapes. Some are round, while others are tube-shaped. An abdominal aneurysm occurs at the portion of the aorta passing through the abdomen. A thoracic aneurysm occurs at the portion of the aorta in the chest cavity. This type of aneurysm significantly raises a patient's chances of an aortic dissection. Though an aneurysm is not generally harmful on its own, an aortic dissection is much more serious.

A dissection refers to the tearing of the inner layer of the aorta. Not only does this cause heart damage, but most patients die from an aortic dissection if the blood ruptures through every layer of the aorta. An aneurysm can be caused by Takayasu's arteritis because the repeated periods of inflammation cause the blood vessel walls to stretch and weaken.