Primary vasculitis that causes chronic granulomatous inflammation predominantly of the aorta and its major branches; the two major categories of large vessel vasculitis are temporal (giant cell) arteritis and Takayasu arteritis (TA)
Takayasu arteritis
Aetiology
Generally occurs < 40 years
More common in females
More prevalent in Asian populations
Clinical features
Early features include non specific features - low grade fever, malaise, night sweats, weight loss, arthralgia and fatigue
Following this - claudication in upper and lower limbs
If untreated, vascular stenosis and aneurysms can occur - results in bruit (most commonly carotid), reduced pulses, blood pressure difference of extremities
Investigations
Bloods: raised inflammatory markers
Imaging: MR angiogram can detect thickened vessel walls and stenosis
Giant cell arteritis
Aetiology
Most common cause of systemic vasculitis in adults
Unknown aetiology
Generally occurs > 50 years, most commonly late 60+