Complications Of Takayasu's Arteritis To Watch Out For

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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