Complications Of Takayasu's Arteritis To Watch Out For
Takayasu's arteritis is a rare vasculitis disease. Vasculitis disorders cause blood vessels to become inflamed. Patients with Takayasu's arteritis experience damage to the aorta, which is one of the most important in the body, as it is responsible for carrying blood from the heart throughout the body. Depending on the symptom progression, patients may end up with blocked or narrow arteries, and they may also have weakened artery walls. Most patients require medications to help reduce arterial inflammation and prevent potential complications. Though the disease can be managed through medication and healthy lifestyle choices, complications can be severe and even life-threatening. Learn about them now.
Transient Ischemic Attack
Takayasu's arteritis can often occur in cycles or episodes. Even when managed with medication, patients may find their symptoms appearing and disappearing. When the arteries experience repeated periods of inflammation, followed by periods of healing, multiple complications can occur, one of which is a transient ischemic attack. Transient ischemic attacks are strokes that last for just a few minutes. The symptoms mirror those of a standard stroke, but they don't last as long. Transient ischemic attacks are caused by a temporary blockage of blood supply to the brain. Takayasu's arteritis can cause this by blocking the aorta or its branches, which can, in turn, cause the brain to be temporarily deprived of a fresh blood supply. Unlike a stroke, the majority of symptoms go away within twenty-four hours rather than being permanent. However, it's not possible to tell the difference between a transient ischemic attack and stroke while the event is occurring. Transient ischemic attack symptoms always warrant a trip to the hospital. Though this event rarely causes permanent damage, it could be a warning sign more severe strokes will occur in the future.
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Aortic Aneurysm
An aortic aneurysm occurs when the wall of the aorta has an abnormal bulge. Aneurysms can occur anywhere along the aorta and take a variety of shapes. Some are round, while others are tube-shaped. An abdominal aneurysm occurs at the portion of the aorta passing through the abdomen. A thoracic aneurysm occurs at the portion of the aorta in the chest cavity. This type of aneurysm significantly raises a patient's chances of an aortic dissection. Though an aneurysm is not generally harmful on its own, an aortic dissection is much more serious. A dissection refers to the tearing of the inner layer of the aorta. Not only does this cause heart damage, but most patients die from an aortic dissection if the blood ruptures through every layer of the aorta. An aneurysm can be caused by Takayasu's arteritis because the repeated periods of inflammation cause the blood vessel walls to stretch and weaken.
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Heart Attack
A heart attack is an uncommon complication of Takayasu's arteritis, but it is possible and even potentially fatal. The inflammatory symptoms of Takayasu's arteritis tend to develop over long periods. As the blood vessels narrow and constrict, the body develops alternate routes for blood flow. While the alternate vessels can't generally perform as efficiently as the damaged vessel, they're usually able to keep tissue alive. However, there are rare cases in which there aren't enough alternate pathways. If the aorta narrows enough to become blocked, and there isn't another route for the blood to follow, an individual will experience a heart attack. Even if there are enough alternate vessels to keep the body's tissue healthy, patients will generally experience symptoms due to decreased blood flow, including fatigue, aches, and general pain.
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High Blood Pressure
There's a significant correlation between high blood pressure and Takayasu's arteritis. A larger percentage of Takayasu's arteritis patients have hypertension than the average population. The link between the conditions is well-documented, although there have only been a few studies regarding the cause. One theory is the narrowing of inflamed blood vessels leads to larger amounts of blood being forced through smaller spaces at the same speed. Naturally, that causes blood pressure to be higher. Blood pressure can also increase when the blood flow to the kidneys becomes restricted. A lack of adequate blood and oxygen supply can cause the kidneys to function poorly or even develop diseases. From there, further hypertension can be caused by kidney disease. It's important for hypertension to be monitored and treated, as the condition is directly related to the leading cause of death for Takayasu's arteritis patients.
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Blood Vessel Narrowing And Hardening
It's possible for the inflammation from Takayasu's arteritis to cause blood vessel narrowing and hardening. The disease typically presents in two stages. The first stage includes fatigue and aching due to inflammation, and about half of the patients feel generally unwell. In the second stage, the inflammation causes narrowing of the arteries. Less oxygen and fewer nutrients can reach the body, which leads to symptoms like lightheadedness, chest pain, anemia, and weakness in the limbs. When the blood vessel is narrower, there's a higher chance of substances building up on the arterial walls. Fats adhere to the inside walls of the aorta and calcify over time. As blockage builds up, the flow of blood from the heart is further restricted. This can lead to catastrophic cardiovascular events or neurological damage caused by a stroke.
