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Symptoms
By Mayo Clinic staff
First-stage symptoms
Symptoms of Takayasu's arteritis often occur in two stages. In the first stage, you're likely to feel unwell, with:
- Fatigue
- Rapid, unintended weight loss
- Muscle or joint pain
- Low-grade fever
Not everyone has these initial symptoms, however, and it's possible for inflammation to damage arteries for years before problems appear.
Second-stage symptoms
Second-stage symptoms begin to develop when inflammation has caused arteries to narrow, reducing the amount of blood, oxygen and nutrients reaching certain organs and tissues. These signs and symptoms may include:
- Arm or leg weakness or pain with use (claudication)
- Lightheadedness, dizziness, fainting, headaches
- Difficulty thinking and remembering
- Visual disturbances
- High blood pressure
- Difference in blood pressure between your two arms
- Diminished or absent pulse in the wrists — Takayasu's arteritis is sometimes called pulseless disease because narrowed arteries can make normal pulses difficult or impossible to detect
- Anemia, which may make you feel tired or weak
- Chest pain
- In some people, high blood pressure in the arteries in the lungs (pulmonary hypertension) leading to shortness of breath and fatigue
When to see a doctor
If you have symptoms that might suggest Takayasu's arteritis, see your doctor. Many signs and symptoms of Takayasu's arteritis are similar to those of other conditions, which can make diagnosis challenging. Still, early detection of the disease is important for getting the most benefit from treatment and preventing complications.
If you've already been diagnosed with Takayasu's arteritis, keep in mind that the symptoms of a disease flare (recurrence) are often similar to those that occurred when the disease first began. Also pay attention to any new signs or symptoms. These may indicate either a disease flare or a complication of treatment.
- Takayasu's arteritis. American College of Rheumatology. http://www.rheumatology.org/practice/clinical/patients/diseases_and_conditions/takayasusartritis.asp. Accessed Sept. 9, 2010.
- Ogino H, et al. Overview of late outcome of medical and surgical treatment for Takayasu arteritis. 2008;118:2738.
- Hunder GG. Classification of and approach to vasculitis in adults. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Sept. 10, 2010.
- Hunder GG. Clinical features and diagnosis of Takayasu arteritis. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Sept. 10, 2010.
- Hunder GG. Treatment of Takayasu arteritis. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Sept. 10, 2010.
- Takayasu's arteritis. Vasculitis Foundation. http://www.vasculitisfoundation.org/takayasusarteritis. Accessed Sept. 14, 2010.
- Hauenstein E, et al. Takayasu's arteritis in pregnancy: Review of literature and discussion. Journal of Perinatal Medicine. 2010;38:55.
- McBane RD (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Sept. 26, 2010.
- Anderson CF (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Sept. 17, 2010.
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