Arq. Bras. Cardiol. 2023; 120(1): e20220877

Takayasu’s Arteritis: Is Age a Differential Factor in the Diagnosis, Follow-Up, and Treatment of the Disease?

Fernanda Luciano Rodrigues

DOI: 10.36660/abc.20220877

This Short Editorial is referred by the Research article "Characteristics of Older Patients with Takayasu’s Arteritis: A Two-Center, Cross-Sectional, Retrospective Cohort Study".

Takayasu’s arteritis (TAK) is a large-vessel inflammatory vasculitis, mainly affecting the aorta, its main divisional branches, and pulmonary arteries, being classically presenting in females aged 20 to 40 years. ^– TAK often presents with nonspecific symptoms such as fever, fatigue, abdominal pain, and weight-loss. ^,

TAK is a difficult condition to deal with. Early identification of this disease is difficult and necessitates clinical suspicion and vigilance. Radiologic methods can identify diseased vessels but fail to distinguish between active and chronic lesions.Systemic vasculitis can lead to irreversible scars in affected organs, which may be caused by disease activity and/or therapeutic approaches such as corticosteroids and other immunosuppressives.Glucocorticoids remain the most effective and serve as a cornerstone first-line treatment.

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