Korean J Med.  2018 Oct;93(5):430-438. 10.3904/kjm.2018.93.5.430.

Takayasu Arteritis: Update on Monitoring of Disease Activity and Management

• Park EH
• Lee EY
• Song YW

• KMID: 2446984
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3904/kjm.2018.93.5.430

Abstract

Takayasu arteritis (TAK) is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by granulomatous vasculitis of the aorta and its major branches. The rarity of the disease along with its heterogeneous clinical presentation typically lead to late diagnosis and delayed treatment. Furthermore, clinical and serological indices for monitoring disease activity are suboptimal, with no definitive evidence supporting therapeutic approaches in TAK. Nevertheless, there have been recent advances in disease assessment with new scoring systems (Indian Takayasu Arteritis Score), biomarkers including pentraxin 3 and soluble human leukocyte antigen-E, and imaging modalities such as 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography. Most of the new information for management of TAK has come from increasing experience with biological agents, such as tumor necrosis factor inhibitors and tocilizumab, used in the treatment of resistant TAK. A number of potential new therapeutic targets that may be useful for the treatment of TAK have been reported, and randomized controlled trials are needed to establish optimal therapeutic approaches

Keyword

Takayasu arteritis; Diagnosis; Treatment

MeSH Terms

Aorta
Biological Factors
Biomarkers
Delayed Diagnosis
Diagnosis
Humans
Leukocytes
Takayasu Arteritis*
Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
Vasculitis
Biological Factors
Biomarkers
Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha