Takayasu's Arteritis and Its Therapy

Abstract

Twenty patients with Takayasu''s arteries were followed prospectively for an average of 4.6 yr. Sixteen patients with active inflammatory Takayasu''s arteritis were treated with glucocorticoids; 8 responded to therapy. Six patients had clinical or angiographic progression of their vasculitis on daily corticosteroid therapy. These patients were then given cyclophosphamide together with prednisolone on alternate days. Of these 6 patients, 4 had no progression of vascular lesions while receiving cyclophosphamide; 2 had progression of vascular lesions after 30 and 48 mo. of therapy. Vascular reconstructive surgery was successful in 7 patients who tolerated a total of 13 vascular surgical procedures without major complications. One bypass graft occluded after 13 mo. and was revised. With corticosteroid therapy, cytotoxic therapy and surgery, no deaths due to Takayasu''s arteritis or its treatment have occurred.