

  • Blood tests. These tests can be used to look for signs of inflammation. Your doctor may also check for anemia.
  • Magnetic resonance angiography (MRA). This less invasive form of angiography produces detailed images of your blood vessels without the use of catheters or X-rays. MRA works by using radio waves in a strong magnetic field to produce data that a computer turns into detailed images of tissue slices. During this test, a contrast dye is injected into a vein or artery to help your doctor better see and examine the blood vessels.
  • Ultrasonography. Doppler ultrasound, a more sophisticated version of the common ultrasound, has the ability to produce very high-resolution images of the walls of certain arteries, such as those in the neck and those in the shoulder. It may be able to detect subtle changes in these arteries before other imaging techniques can.
  • Positron emission tomography (PET). This imaging test is often done in combination with computerized tomography or magnetic resonance imaging. PET can measure the intensity of inflammation in blood vessels. Before the scan, a radioactive drug is injected into a vein or an artery to make it easier for your doctor to see areas of decreased blood flow.


Treatment of Takayasu's arteritis focuses on controlling the inflammation with medications and preventing further damage to your blood vessels. Takayasu's arteritis can sometimes be difficult to treat because even if your symptoms improve, the disease might still be active. In addition, by the time some people are diagnosed, it's possible that irreversible damage has already occurred.




  • Corticosteroids to control inflammation. The first line of treatment is usually with a corticosteroid, such as prednisone. Even if you soon start feeling better, you may need to continue taking the drug long term. After a few months, your doctor may gradually begin to lower the dose until you reach the lowest dose you need to control inflammation. Eventually your doctor may tell you to stop taking the medication completely.

    Possible side effects of corticosteroids include weight gain, increased risk of infections, bone thinning (osteoporosis) and menstrual irregularities. To help prevent bone loss, your doctor may recommend a calcium supplement and vitamin D.

  • Other drugs that suppress the immune system. If your condition doesn't respond well to corticosteroids or you have trouble as your medication dose is lowered, your doctor may prescribe immunosuppressant drugs. Examples are methotrexate (Trexall), azathioprine (Azasan, Imuran) and leflunomide (Arava). Some people respond well to medications that were developed for people receiving organ transplants, such as mycophenolate mofetil (CellCept). The most common side effect is an increased risk of infection.
  • Medications to regulate the immune system. If you don't respond to standard treatments, your doctor may suggest drugs that correct abnormalities in the immune system (biologics). Examples are etanercept (Enbrel), infliximab (Remicade, Inflectra) and tocilizumab (Actemra). More research is needed. The most common side effect with these drugs is an increased risk of infection.


If your arteries become severely narrowed or blocked, you may need surgery to open or bypass these arteries and allow an uninterrupted flow of blood. Often this helps to improve certain symptoms, such as high blood pressure and chest pain.

In some cases, though, narrowing or blockage may recur, requiring a second procedure. Also, if you develop large aneurysms, surgery may be needed to prevent them from rupturing. Your doctor may suggest putting off surgery until your condition is in remission.


  • Bypass surgery. In this procedure, an artery or a vein is removed from a different part of your body and attached to the blocked artery, providing a bypass for blood to flow through. Bypass surgery is usually performed when the narrowing of the arteries is irreversible or when there is significant obstruction to blood flow.
  • Blood vessel widening (percutaneous angioplasty). This procedure may be indicated if the arteries are severely blocked. During percutaneous angioplasty, a tiny balloon is threaded through a blood vessel and into the affected artery. Once in place, the balloon is expanded to widen the blocked area, then it's deflated and removed.

Clinical trials


Coping and support





Preparing for your appointment

If your primary care doctor suspects that you have Takayasu's arteritis, he or she may refer you to one or more specialists with experience in helping people with this condition. Takayasu's arteritis is a rare disorder that can be difficult to diagnose and treat.


Because appointments can be brief and because there's often a lot of information to discuss, it's a good idea to be prepared. Here's some information to help you get ready for your appointment.

What you can do


For Takayasu's arteritis, some basic questions to ask include:

  • What's the most likely cause of my symptoms?
  • What are other possible causes for my symptoms?
  • Is my condition temporary or long lasting?
  • Is there a generic alternative to the medicine you're prescribing?
  • What if I can't or don't want to take steroids?

What to expect from your doctor


  • When did you first start having symptoms?
  • How severe are your symptoms?
  • What, if anything, seems to improve your symptoms?
  • What, if anything, seems to worsen your symptoms?
March 06, 2019
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  3. Ferri FF. Takayasu's arteritis. In: Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2019. Philadelphia, Pa.: Elsevier; 2019. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Jan. 27, 2019.
  4. Sidawy AN, et al. Takayasu's disease. In: Rutherford's Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy. 9th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Elsevier; 2019. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Jan. 27, 2019.
  5. Firestein GS, et al., eds. Giant cell arteritis, polymyalgia rheumatica, and Takayasu's arteritis. In: Kelley and Firestein's Textbook of Rheumatology. 10th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Elsevier; 2017. http://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Jan. 27, 2019.
  6. Merkel PA. Clinical features and diagnosis of Takayasu's arteritis. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed Jan. 29, 2019.
  7. Hunder GG. Treatment of Takayasu arteritis. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed Jan. 27, 2019.
  8. Souza AW, et al. Diagnostic and classification criteria of Takayasu arteritis. Journal of autoimmunity; 2013; 48: 79.