Treatment

Takayasu arteritis is treated using corticosteroids, drugs that suppress immunity and surgery.

Takayasu arteritis is treated with drugs if the disease is detected in early stages or if the patient cannot undergo surgical procedures. Corticosteroids like prednisone and prednisolone are used in these patients. In patients who do not respond to corticosteroids, other drugs that suppress immunity like methotrexate, cyclophosphamide or mycophenolate mofetil may be useful.

Complications of Takayasu arteritis such as high blood pressure and heart failure are also treated using medications.

Some patients need surgery to relieve the obstruction in the artery or repair any aneurysm or damaged heart valve. Some surgical procedures used are:

Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty – In this procedure, a tube with a deflated balloon is introduced into the blocked artery. When the balloon reaches the blocked portion, it is inflated. Thus, it helps to relieve the block.
Surgical Bypass Grafting – A normal vein is taken from another part of the body and is grafted at the affected site to ensure flow of blood without obstruction.

Patch angioplasty – In this procedure, a patch of vein, artery or synthetic material is used to repair a small portion of the diseased artery.
Endarterectomy – The obstruction blocking the flow of blood through the lumen of the artery is removed.
Vascular stenting – This is a process of introducing a small tube in the blood vessel to maintain it patent.

In addition, the patient is advised lifestyle changes to prevent the development of high cholesterol, lipids and high blood pressure.