Takayasu's arteritis - a comprehensive review

H.S. Natraj Setty*, J.R. Vijaykumar, C.M Nagesh, Shivanand S Patil, Santhosh Jadav, T.R. Raghu, C.N. Manjunath

Sri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India

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Abstract

Takayasu’s arteritis (TA) is a chronic inflammatory disease of unknown aetiology. The mechanism of this disease is not exactly defined. The inflammatory process is generally (but not exclusively) initiated in the second or third decade of life through the actions of non-specific inflammatory cells. As the disease progresses, fibrotic stenosis occurs in aorta and its main branches. The consequence of this inflammatory process can be stenosis, thrombosis, dilatation or aneurysm formation in aorta and/ or its branches. Majority of cases have been observed in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. In Asia, its incidence (2.69 in a million per year) has been reported to be 100 times higher than in Europe and North America. Because of the delay in diagnosing the disease, patients often experience claudication, absence of pulses, hypertension, myocardial infarction (MI), and cerebrovascular accidents (CVAs). Accurate and early diagnosis of TA can reduce the economic, social, and psychological burdens. Considering the fact that classical TA has mainly been described in Asia.

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Background

Takayasu arteritis (TA) is a large vessel vasculitis (LVV) characterized by granulomatous inflammation of the vessel wall with an unknown etiopathogenesis. TA predominantly affects young females during the second or third decades of life and mainly involves the aortic arch and its primary branches, ascending aorta, thoracic descending aorta and abdominal aorta (Figure A and B). Early in the disease course, inflammation of the involved arteries progresses, resulting in segmental stenosis, occlusion, dilatation and/or aneurysm. This may cause extremity pain, claudication, bruits, absent or diminished pulses and loss of blood pressure. TA generally follows an insidious course, however, presentation with acute visual loss or stroke may also occur^1,2. TA may show different patterns of arterial involvement, disease expression and prognosis in different regions of the world^3,4. Multiple genetic factors were recently shown by a whole-genome approach in TA and an association between the extent of vascular involvement and the major genetic risk factor HLA-B*52 was reported in Turkish TA patients, suggesting that genetic factors might influence disease severity^5,6. Yamamoto described the case of a 45 year old man with persistent fever who developed impalpable upper limb and carotid pulses associated with weight loss and dyspnoea. Takayasu, professor of ophthalmology at Kanazawa University Japan, presented the case of a 21-year-old woman with characteristic fundal arteriovenous anastamoses. Onishi and Kagosha each described similar cases associated with absent radial pulses⁷. The first postmortem case of a 25-year-old woman demonstrated panarteritis and suggested that the fundal appearances resulted from retinal ischaemia⁸. Shimizu and Sano summarised the clinical features of this “pulseless disease”⁹. Incidence of Takayasu arteritis is rare, but most commonly seen in Japan, South East Asia, India, and Mexico. In 1990, it was included in the list of intractable diseases maintained by the Japanese government, and to date 5000 patients have been registered (Table 1). A study of North American patients by Hall et al found the incidence to be 2.6/million/year¹⁰. The UK incidence is unknown.

Images of takayasu’s arteritis with various clinical manifestations

Figure A: Shows left renal artery and accessory renal artery stenosis

Figure B: Shows abdominal aortic aneurysm

Table 1:1990 ACR criteria for the classification of Takayasu arteritis³⁷

Criteria	Definition
Age at disease onset <40 years	Development of symptoms or findings related to Takayasu arteritis at age <40 years
Claudication of extremities	Development and worsening of fatigue and discomfort in muscles of 1 or more extremity while in use, especially the upper extremities
Decreased brachial artery pulse	Decreased pulsation of 1 or both brachial arteries
Blood pressure difference >10 mm Hg	Difference of >10 mm Hg in systolic blood pressure between arms
Bruit over subclavian arteries or aorta	Bruit audible on auscultation over 1 or both subclavian arteries or abdominal aorta
Arteriogram abnormality	Bruit audible on auscultation over 1 or both subclavian arteries or abdominal aortaArteriographic narrowing or occlusion of the entire aorta, its primary branches, or large arteries in the proximal upper or lower extremities, not caused by arteriosclerosis, fibromuscular dysplasia, or similar causes; changes usually focal or segmental

A diagnosis of Takayasu arteritis requires that at least 3 of the 6 criteria are met.

Pathophysiology

Takayasu arteritis is an inflammatory disease of largeand mediumsized arteries, with a predilection for the aorta and its branches. Advanced lesions demonstrate a panarteritis with intimal proliferation. Lesions produced by the inflammatory process can be stenotic, occlusive, or aneurysmal. All aneurysmal lesions may have areas of arterial narrowing. Vascular changes lead to the main complications, including hypertension, most often due to renal artery stenosis (Figure C and D) or, more rarely, stenosis of the suprarenal aorta; aortic insufficiency due to aortic valve involvement; pulmonary hypertension; and aortic or arterial aneurysm. Congestive heart failure is a common finding, much more so than dilated cardiomyopathy, myocarditis, and pericarditis, which also have been reported. Macroscopically, in the chronic phase, the aorta is thickened secondary to fibrosis of all three vessel layers. The lumen is narrowed in a patchy distribution, often affecting multiple areas. If disease progression is rapid, fibrosis can be inadequate with subsequent aneurysm formation. The intima may be ridged, with a “tree bark” appearance, a feature common to many aortitides¹¹. Microscopically, the vasculitis may be divided into an acute florid inflammatory phase and a healed fibrotic phase. In the acute phase a vasa vasoritis is seen in the adventitia. The media is infiltrated by lymphocytes and occasional giant cells with neovascularisation. Mucopolysaccharides, smooth muscle cells, and fibroblasts thicken the intima. In the chronic phase there is fibrosis with destruction of elastic tissue. Similar histopathological findings are also seen in giant cell arteritis; therefore, biopsy results may not differentiate between these two vasculitides. Clinical manifestations usually allow correct diagnosis¹².

Figure C: Shows left Subclavian artery stenosis

Figure D: shows carotid artery stenosis.

Etiology

The etiology of TA is still not known¹³. Similarly, exact pathogenic sequence of the disease is yet to be established. However, a hypothesis has been developed where 65kDa heat-shock protein in the aortic tissue gets stimulated by unknown stimulus leading to the induction of major histocompatibility class I chain-related A (MICA) located on the vascular cells¹⁴. TA is a chronic granuloumatous panarteritis of large sized arteries, classically involving the aortic arch, but one third of the cases also affect the remainder of the aorta and its branches, and pulmonary arteries¹⁵. The gross morphologic examination, in most of the cases, irregular thickening of the aortic and its branch vessel wall with intimal wrinkling is seen¹⁶. When aortic arch is involved, the orifices of aortic branch vessels to the upper portion of the body may be markedly narrowed or even obliterated. The coronary and renal arteries may be equally affected (Figure E). Histological findings may range from an adventitial mononuclear infiltrate with perivascular cuffing of the vasa vasorum (channels supplying blood vessels) to marked mononuclear inflammation the media¹⁷. Aortic root involvement may lead to dilatation and aortic valve insufficiency¹⁸. Myocardial infarction may result in narrowing of coronary ostia¹⁹.

Figure E: Shows right renal artery stenosis

Figure F: Shows PTA to right renal artery

Clinical features

⇒ Diminished or absent pulses in 84–96% of patients associated with limb claudication and blood pressure discrepancies.

⇒ Vascular bruits in 80–94% of patients, often multiple, and particularly affecting the carotids, subclavian, and abdominal vessels²⁰.

⇒ Hypertension in 33–83% of patients²¹, generally reflecting renal artery stenosis, which is seen in 28–75% of patients²².

⇒ Takayasu retinopathy in up to 37% of patients²³.

⇒ Congestive cardiac failure associated with hypertension, aortic regurgitation, and dilated cardiomyopathy²⁴.

⇒ Neurological features secondary to hypertension and/or ischaemia, including postural dizziness, seizures, and amaurosis.

⇒ Pulmonary artery involvement in 14–100% of patients, depending on the method used to assess pulmonary vasculature. Oligaemic lung fields on plain chest x ray correlate with pulmonary vasculopathy in approximately a third of cases. Pulmonary artery disease shows little correlation with the systemic pattern of arterial involvement²⁵, but can be useful in the differential diagnosis by helping to confirm Takayasu arteritis.

Serological markers

No reliable serological marker of disease course has been identified. In the past, ESR normalisation was used as a remission criterion, but recently it has been shown that it has a low specificity and sensitivity, because ESR is raised in nearly half of the patients in clinical remission, while it is normal in 28% of the patients with active disease²⁶. Serum concentrations of interleukin-6 and regulated on activation normal T cell expressed and secreted (RANTES) are elevated in patients with active disease and concentrations parallel to the activity of the disease²⁷. Similarly, matrix metalloproteinase-3 and metalloproteinase-9 levels can be used as activity markers, whereas high serum concentrations of metalloproteinase-2 can suggest the presence of Takayasu’s arteritis without any relation with the activity of the disease²⁸.

Radiological findings

The American College of Rheumatology included arteriogram abnormalities in the diagnostic criteria of the disease. Angiography is the gold standard for evaluation of vascular lesions; in particular panangiography allows a correct assessment of the extension of the disease, which correlates with its severity. Some authors underline the high incidence of coronary involvement in Takayasu’s arteritis (15%) and recommend to perform a coronarographic exam²⁹. Assessment of pulmonary vasculature by angiography is not universally recommended being reserved for patients with symptoms of pulmonary hypertension³⁰. However, non-invasive techniques (i.e. lung scan) have demonstrated lung perfusion abnormalities in about two thirds of asymptomatic patients³¹. Angiography allows a topographic classification which correlates anatomic involvement, clinical manifestations and prognosis. Angiography, however, is an invasive method, it is not able to differentiate active from burned-out lesions and exposes the patients to risks connected with radiation and the contrast medium. In the early phase of Takayasu’s arteritis, the thickening of vascular wall of the aorta or pulmonary artery can be detected by computed tomography (CT) or nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). CT, combined with injection of contrast medium (the so-called angio-CT), allows to study wall inflammation but it has a low spatial resolution and cannot evaluate medium-size arteries³². NMR is a good alternative method to CT, especially angio-NMR, which is equally or more sensitive than angiography in detecting lesions of large vessels. However, it is less sensitive in detecting smaller branch involvement and may overestimate the degree of stenosis in renal and subclavian arteries³³. More recently, fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) has been proposed as a promising technique in the early diagnosis and assessment of response to treatment in Takayasu arteritis as well as in other large vessel vasculitis, because it seems to be a more sensitive method than conventional clinical methods in measuring continuing vascular inflammation³⁴. Finally, color Doppler ultrasonography plays an important role for screening, detection and follow-up of carotid (Figure F and G) and subclavian arteries where it is easy to discriminate between atherosclerotic and inflammatory lesions³⁵.

Figure G: Shows left anterior descending(LAD)coronary artery stenosis

Classification

Classification of Takayasu’s arteritis has been made to classify the disease on the basis of angiographic findings (Table 2). Ishikawa clinical classification and diagnostic criteria of Takayasu arteritis shown in Table 3 and Table 4. The early system, revised by Lupi-Herrera et al in 1977³⁶., has been superseded by the new classification of Takayasu arteritis. These systems are useful in that they allow a comparison of patient characteristics according to the vessels involved and are helpful in planning surgery.

Table 2:New angiographic classification of Takayasu arteritis, Takayasu conference 1994³⁸

Type	Vessel involvement
Type I	Branches from the aortic arch
Type IIa	Ascending aorta, aortic arch and its branches
Type IIb	Ascending aorta, aortic arch and its branches, thoracic descending aorta
Type III	Thoracic descending aorta, abdominal aorta, and/or renal arteries
Type IV	Abdominal aorta and/or renal arteries
Type V	Combined features of types IIb and IV

According to this classification system, involvement of the coronary or pulmonary arteries should be designated as C (+) or P (+), respectively.

Table 3:Ishikawa clinical classification of Takayasu arteritis³⁹

Group	Clinical features
Group I	Uncomplicated disease, with or without pulmonary artery involvement
Group IIA	Mild/moderate single complication together with uncomplicated disease
Group IIB	Severe single complication together with uncomplicated disease
Group III	Two or more complications together with uncomplicated disease

Table 4:Ishikawa diagnostic criteria of takayasu's disease⁴⁰

Criteria	Definition
Obligatory criterion: Age ≤40 years	Age 540 yr at diagnosis or at creel of "characteristic signs and symptoms"' of 1 month duration in patient history.
Two major criteria: 1) Left mid suhclavian artery lesion	The most severe stenosis or occlusion present in the mid portion from the point 1 cm proximal to the left vertebral artery orifice to that 3 cm distal to the orifice determined by angiography.
2) Right mid subclavian artery lesion	The most severe stenosis or occlusion present in the mid portion from the right vertebral artery orifice to the point 3 cm distal to the orifice determined by angiography.
Nine minor criteria 1) High ESR	Unexplained persistent high ESR ≤20 mm/h (Westergren) at diagnosis or presence of the evidence in patient history.
2) Carotid artery tenderness	Unilateral or bilateral tenderness of common carotid arteries by physician palpation : neck muscle tenderness is unacceptable.
3) Hypertension	Persistent blood pressure ≥140/90 mmHg brachial or ≥160/90 mmHg popliteal at age≤ 40 years, or presence of the history at age ≤40 years
4) Aortic regurgitation or Annuloaortic ectasi	By auscultation or Doppler echocardiography or angiography. By angiography or two-dimensional echocardiography
5) Pulmonary artery lesion	Lobar or segmental arterial occlusion or equivalent determined by angiography or perfusion scintigraphy; or presence of stenosis, aneurysm, luminal irregularity or any combination in pulmonary trunk or in unilateral or bilateral pulmonary arteries determined by angiography
6) Left mid common carotid lesion	Presence of the most severe stenosis or occlusion in the mid portion of 5 cm in length from the point 2 cm distal to its orifice determined by angiography.
7) Distal brachiocephalic trunk lesion	Presence of the most severe stenosis or occlusion in the distal third determined by angiography
8) Descending thoracic aorta lesion	Narrowing, dilation or aneurysm, luminal irregularity or any combination determined by angiography; tortuosity alone is unacceptable.
9) Abdominal aorta lesion	Narrowing, dilation or aneurysm, luminal irregularity or any combination and absence of lesion in aorto-iliac region consisting of 2 cm of terminal aorta and bilateral common iliac arteries determined by angiography; turtuosity alone is unacceptable.

Management

Medical treatment

Medical treatment is to control active inflammation and minimize arterial injury. To prevent the development of vascular complications and induce remission, early initiation of immunosuppressive treatment is crucial⁴¹. Prednisolone is the first line agent, and the EULAR (European League Against Rheumatism) guidelines recommend an initial dose of 1mg/kg/day (total maximum dose 60mg/day), with gradual tapering. Adjunctive steroidsparing immunosuppression is required in the majority of patients to minimise steroid-related complications and control disease progression, particularly as there is considerable risk of relapse when steroid treatment is stopped. There are studies suggesting methotrexate and azathioprine are effective at inducing remission and halting progress of arterial lesions⁴². A recent review published of 84 patients with TA treated with tumour necrosis factor-? antagonists including infliximab and etanercept revealed complete remission in 37%, partial remission in 53.5%, and 9.5% nonresponders. Of note, side effects (mainly infections and hypersensitivity reactions) were observed in 20% of cases. Likewise, anti-IL-6 receptor monoclonal antibody tocilizumab may help control refractory disease and the published cases have recently been reviewed in the literature⁴³.

Surgical treatment

With symptomatic stenotic or occlusive lesions, it appears appropriate and often necessary to revascularize. The indications for considering intervention include uncontrolled hypertension as a consequence of renal artery stenosis, severe symptomatic coronary artery or cerebrovascular disease, severe aortic regurgitation or coarctation, stenotic or occlusive lesions resulting in critical limb ischemia, and aneurysms at risk of rupture. In these cases the risk benefit ratio for surgery is good⁴⁴.

Conclusion

• Takayasu’s arteritis is a nonspecific inflammatory disease of the arteries which is more commonly seen in Asian countries and predominantly affects women. Manifestations in our study range from asymptomatic disease, impalpable pulses or arterial bruits ,to catastrophic neurological impairment .

• Disease presentation varies between different populations.

• Angiography remains the gold standard and was helpful in confirming the diagnosis and planning the treatment .Comprehensive angiographic evaluation followed by percutaneous angioplasty and stenting is useful in properly selected cases .

• The four most important complications for classification are Takayasu retinopathy, secondary hypertension, aortic regurgitation, and aneurysm formation, each being graded as mild/moderate or severe at the time of diagnosis.

• Treatment should aim to control disease activity and preserve vascular competence, with minimal long term side effects; those with disease that carries a good prognosis should not be put at risk by treatment that is more harmful than the disease itself.

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