Clinical features of Takayasu arteritis

Takayasu arteritis is diagnosed on the basis of clinical findings, associated with raised inflammatory markers and imaging confirmation of vasculitis; see Investigations for Takayasu arteritis. Systemic features of vasculitis (eg fever, malaise, weight loss) occur in only 20 to 40% of people. Patients may present with features of vascular insufficiency due to arterial stenoses or aneurysms. These manifest clinically as ischaemic symptoms, absent pulses, arterial bruits or hypertension.