Later disease

Later stages of Takayasu's disease are characterised by fibrotic stenosis of arteries and thrombosis. The main resulting clinical features are ischaemic phenomena:

• weak and asymetrical arterial pulses
  
  
• blood pressure discrepancy between the arms
  
  
• visual disturbance:
  • scotomata
  • hemianopia
    
    
• other neurological features:
  • vertigo
  • syncope
  • hemiparesis or other stroke
    
    
• cardiovascular features:
  • aneurysm formation and rupture of vessels may occur
  • coronary artery disease may cause myocardial infarction
  • pulmonary artery disease may cause pulmonary hypertension
    
    
• descending aorta syndrome:
  • renovascular hypertension is the most common cause of death
  • ischaemia and infarction of the bowel are causes of abdominal pain