The story of Takayasu arteritis

Abstract

At first, Takayasu arteritis was reported as an eye disease and soon after it was confirmed as a vasculitis. The aetiology of the disease is still unknown. However, its characteristic clinical features suggest multiple causative factors. Recent progress in vascular biology and immunology is elucidating the pathological process of the vasculitis and, at the same time, suggesting common pathways with other vasculitides, such as Bürger, Behçet and inflammatory abdominal aortic aneurysms. In the near future, the aetiology of these vasculitides could be elucidated and their clinical classification changed.