Takayasu Arteritis and Pregnancy Case Report and Review of the Literature

Takayasu arteritis is a rare primary vasculitis of unknown cause, primarily affecting women of child-bearing age. Its course is unpredictable, but slow progression is usual, leading to stenosis, occlusion, or aneurysmal degeneration of the aorta or its major branches. Poor prognostic factors include retinopathy, secondary hypertension, aortic regurgitation, and arterial aneurysms. Pharmacological treatment is aimed at controlling vessel inflammation and hypertension. We describe the course and management of pregnancy in a woman with severe, complicated Takayasu's arteritis and review this disease with special reference to natural history, etiopathogenesis, diagnostic criteria, classification, prognostic factors, and treatment strategies.