Complications

With Takayasu's arteritis, cycles of inflammation and healing in the arteries might lead to one or more of the following complications:

• Hardening and narrowing of blood vessels, which can cause reduced blood flow to organs and tissues.
• High blood pressure, usually as a result of decreased blood flow to your kidneys.
• Inflammation of the heart, which may affect the heart muscle or the heart valves.
• Heart failure due to high blood pressure, inflammation of the heart, an aortic valve that allows blood to leak back into your heart, or a combination of these.
• Stroke, which occurs as a result of reduced or blocked blood flow in arteries leading to your brain.
• Transient ischemic attack (TIA), which is also called a ministroke. TIA serves as a warning sign because it produces symptoms similar to a stroke but doesn't cause permanent damage.
• Aneurysm in the aorta, which occurs when the walls of the blood vessel weaken and stretch, forming a bulge that has the potential to break.
• Heart attack, which may occur as a result of reduced blood flow to the heart.

Pregnancy

A healthy pregnancy is possible for women with Takayasu's arteritis. But the disease and drugs used to treat it can affect your fertility and pregnancy. If you have Takayasu's arteritis and are planning on becoming pregnant, work with your doctor to develop a plan to limit complications of pregnancy before you conceive. See your doctor regularly during your pregnancy for checkups.