Surgical considerations of occlusive lesions associated with Takayasu's arteritis

2021 American College of Rheumatology/Vasculitis Foundation Guideline for the Management of Giant Cell Arteritis and Takayasu Arteritis

OBJECTIVE

To provide evidence-based recommendations and expert guidance for the management of giant cell arteritis (GCA) and Takayasu arteritis (TAK) as exemplars of large vessel vasculitis.

METHODS

Clinical questions regarding diagnostic testing, treatment, and management were developed in the population, intervention, comparator, and outcome (PICO) format for GCA and TAK (27 for GCA, 27 for TAK). Systematic literature reviews were conducted for each PICO question. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation methodology was used to rate the quality of the evidence. Recommendations were developed by the Voting Panel, comprising adult and pediatric rheumatologists and patients. Each recommendation required ≥70% consensus among the Voting Panel.

RESULTS

We present 22 recommendations and 2 ungraded position statements for GCA, and 20 recommendations and 1 ungraded position statement for TAK. These recommendations and statements address clinical questions relating to the use of diagnostic testing, including imaging, treatments, and surgical interventions in GCA and TAK. Recommendations for GCA include support for the use of glucocorticoid-sparing immunosuppressive agents and the use of imaging to identify large vessel involvement. Recommendations for TAK include the use of nonglucocorticoid immunosuppressive agents with glucocorticoids as initial therapy. There were only 2 strong recommendations; the remaining recommendations were conditional due to the low quality of evidence available for most PICO questions.

CONCLUSION

These recommendations provide guidance regarding the evaluation and management of patients with GCA and TAK, including diagnostic strategies, use of pharmacologic agents, and surgical interventions.

2021 American College of Rheumatology/Vasculitis Foundation Guideline for the Management of Giant Cell Arteritis and Takayasu Arteritis

OBJECTIVE

To provide evidence-based recommendations and expert guidance for the management of giant cell arteritis (GCA) and Takayasu arteritis (TAK) as exemplars of large vessel vasculitis.

METHODS

Clinical questions regarding diagnostic testing, treatment, and management were developed in the population, intervention, comparator, and outcome (PICO) format for GCA and TAK (27 for GCA, 27 for TAK). Systematic literature reviews were conducted for each PICO question. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation methodology was used to rate the quality of the evidence. Recommendations were developed by the Voting Panel, comprising adult and pediatric rheumatologists and patients. Each recommendation required ≥70% consensus among the Voting Panel.

RESULTS

We present 22 recommendations and 2 ungraded position statements for GCA, and 20 recommendations and 1 ungraded position statement for TAK. These recommendations and statements address clinical questions relating to the use of diagnostic testing, including imaging, treatments, and surgical interventions in GCA and TAK. Recommendations for GCA include support for the use of glucocorticoid-sparing immunosuppressive agents and the use of imaging to identify large vessel involvement. Recommendations for TAK include the use of nonglucocorticoid immunosuppressive agents with glucocorticoids as initial therapy. There were only 2 strong recommendations; the remaining recommendations were conditional due to the low quality of evidence available for most PICO questions.

CONCLUSION

These recommendations provide guidance regarding the evaluation and management of patients with GCA and TAK, including diagnostic strategies, use of pharmacologic agents, and surgical interventions.

Catastrophic Cardiac Complications of Takayasu's Arteritis

Takayasu's arteritis (TA) causes inflammation and necrosis of vessel walls, leading to aneurysm formation, extensive coronary damage and valvular abnormalities. We review a case of recurrent coronary, aortic and mitral valve involvement in a patient with TA and discuss the various treatment options available for such patients.

Surgical strategy for refractory aortitis

In some instances, we encounter cases suffered from inflammatory aortic diseases (aortitis) in Japan, some of which are at the active stages with systemic inflammation. Most of them are refractory with some technical difficulties of surgical treatment. The aortic wall, particularly, at the active stage, is too fragile to hold the surgical sutures. Consequently, the suture reinforcement with Teflon felt is required. In the late stage after surgery, false aneurysms on the suture line, that is, suture detachment potentially occur. To prevent such sequelae in the early and late phases, continuous (life-long) as well as perioperative inflammation control using corticosteroid as an initial drug and/or other immunosuppression agents. This decade, instead of the conventional open surgical repairs, endovascular treatments have widely spread, predominantly for stenotic aortic/arterial lesions. In particular, for more difficult patients suffered from more troublesome Behçet disease, endovascular treatments would have greater advantages to avoid more occasionally occurred pseudo-aneurysm on the other parts as well as the surgical suture lines. The key issues on surgical treatment for refractory aortitis are perioperative inflammation control including the long term with corticosteroid and/or immunosuppressive agents, appropriate open surgical or endovascular treatment approaches, and sufficient reinforcement of surgical suture lines.

Open and Endovascular Management of Severe Cerebral Ischemia in Takayasu's Arteritis

BACKGROUND

Severe cerebral ischemia in patients with Takayasu's arteries was caused by occlusion of most supra-aortic arteries. Arterial revascularization is necessary to decrease the incidence of stroke and improve the quality of life but may be complicated with multiple occlusive lesions and inflammation condition of this disease. This study was to assess options and long-term outcomes of surgical and endovascular treatment.

METHODS

Twenty-nine patients with severe cerebral ischemic symptoms underwent surgical or endovascular treatment from January 1991 to July 2015. Demographic characteristics, surgical and endovascular procedures, and follow-up outcomes were reviewed. Risk factors associated with primary patency of surgical treatment and assisted primary patency of endovascular treatment was identified by Cox regression analyses.

RESULTS

There were 29 patients with a median age of 24 (range 9-37 years), 9 in active and 20 in inactive phase. Seventeen patients underwent a variety of bypass procedures. Fourteen endovascular procedures were performed in 12 patients. No death occurred within 30 days after both procedures. Complications within 30 days after bypass included stroke in 1 patient, infection in 2 patients, and heart failure in 1 patient. Nine patients developed brain hyperperfusion after bypass. Transient hemiplegic paralysis occurred in 1 patient during dilation of the carotid artery. During a median follow-up time of 41 months, primary and secondary patency rate of bypass at 1 and 3 years was 93.75% and 100% and 87.5% and 100%, respectively. Assisted primary and secondary patency rate of endovascular treatment at 1 and 3 years was 85.71% and 92.86% and 68.18% and 75.66%, respectively. There was no independent risk factor associated with either primary patency of surgical treatment or assisted primary patency of endovascular treatment. Disease activity was independent risk factor associated with combined rate of primary patency of surgical treatment and assisted primary patency of endovascular treatment (HR: 0.17, 95% CI: 0.03-0.93, P = 0.04).

CONCLUSIONS

Bypass is the preferred treatment in majority of patients with good long-term patency, even has a higher propensity for postoperative complications. Endovascular treatment should be preserved for short lesions in inappropriate or high-risk surgical patients but needs more reintervention and close monitoring of lesion for better outcomes. Long-term patency of surgical and endovascular treatment is related with disease activity. Combination of surgical or endovascular treatment and medical therapy may improve the efficacy of interventions.

Outcomes of percutaneous coronary intervention and coronary artery bypass grafting in patients with Takayasu arteritis

BACKGROUND

Coronary artery involvement is not a rare presentation of Takayasu arteritis (TA) and the treatment is challenging. The optimal methods of revascularization, and prognosis of treatment have not been established.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the long-term outcomes of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in TA patients.

METHODS

Patients with coronary artery involved in TA who underwent either PCI or CABG were identified between February 2003 and December 2015. The primary outcome was long-term all-cause mortality. Secondary outcomes were myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, and repeat revascularization.

RESULTS

Thirty-one patients were enrolled (PCI=19 vs. CABG=12). Most of them were female (25, 80.6%) and the mean age was 42.6±13.8years (16-64years). Angina pectoris was the most common initial symptom (26 cases, 83.9%) and concomitant aortic regurgitation was present in 8 (25.8%) patients. Both groups had a low rate of corticosteroids use [4/19 (21.1%) vs. 2/12 (16.7%)]. During the median follow-up of 101months (10-384months), PCI group had a significantly higher incidence of restenosis [12/19(63.2%) vs. 3/12(25%)]. Two patients with severe aortic regurgitation in PCI group suffered from cardiac death during follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

Coronary artery involvement should be suspected in TA patients with angina pectoris, especially young women. PCI had a very high rate of in-stent restenosis in patients without corticosteroids and CABG may be a preferred treatment option.

Takayasu arteritis presenting with total occlusion of the left main coronary artery ostium: an extremely rare occurrence

A young 18-year-old female patient with exertional angina and claudication of the upper limbs was subjected to angiography. Bruits were auscultated over the bilateral renal arteries, right subclavian and right common carotid arteries. There was asymmetry of peripheral pulses. Laboratory parameters demonstrated a high erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C reactive protein. An aortic angiogram revealed a typical picture of Takayasu arteritis with bilateral subclavian, common carotid and renal involvement. A coronary angiogram was performed which showed total occlusion of the left main coronary artery. There was retrograde filling of the left coronary artery on right coronary artery injection up to the ostium of the left main coronary artery. Since the markers for disease activity were high, the patient was started on steroids and urgent coronary artery bypass grafting was planned. Unfortunately, the patient refused urgent intervention and was later lost to follow-up. This case describes an extremely rare occurrence of total occlusion of the left main coronary artery ostium in a patient with Takayasu arteritis.

Bilateral discoid medial menisci: a rare phenomenon

Discoid medial meniscus is a relatively rare pathology of the knee joint, with bilateral cases even rarer. Herein, we report the case of a 25-year-old man diagnosed with discoid medial meniscus in the right knee with a horizontal tear. Increased cupping of the medial condyle of the tibia, widening of the medial joint space and the presence of discoid meniscus in the right knee prompted investigation of the asymptomatic left knee with magnetic resonance imaging. The contralateral asymptomatic knee also showed evidence of discoid medial meniscus. The symptomatic knee was successfully treated by arthroscopic partial meniscectomy, with excellent functional outcome.

High-sensitivity C-reactive protein predicts adverse cardiovascular events in patients with Takayasu arteritis with coronary artery involvement

The study aimed to assess the association of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) to major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in Takayasu arteritis (TA) patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Data on 60 TA patients with CAD and 60 age- and severity-matched patients with CAD hospitalized in Fuwai Hospital from 2005 to August 2014 were assessed. The clinical features, laboratory data, coronary angiographic findings, treatment, and follow-up outcomes were summarized retrospectively. MACE were defined as death from cardiac causes, myocardial infarction, nonfatal target vessel revascularization, or rehospitalization due to unstable or progressive angina. CAD patients had more atherogenic lipid and lipoprotein profiles such as lower levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) (1.0 ± 0.2 vs. 1.3 ± 0.3 mmol/L, p = 0.01) and higher levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) (2.5 ± 0.9 vs. 2.2 ± 1.1 mmol/L, p = 0.04) in contrast with TA-CAD patients. During a mean follow-up period of 3.2 years, 31 patients with Takayasu coronary arteritis reached the endpoint. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards model demonstrated that log(hsCRP) (HR = 5.3, 95 % CI = 1.1-27.8, p = 0.04) was a significant and independent predictor of MACE in patients with Takayasu coronary arteritis. Elevated baseline levels of hsCRP predict cardiovascular events, independent of other prognostic markers in TA-related CAD patients.

Anaortic Off-pump Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting in Patients with Takayasu's Arteritis

Background

Coronary involvement in Takayasu's arteritis is a rare but fatal disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the early and mid-term results of Takayasu's arteritis patients who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).

Materials and Methods

Of 2,280 patients who underwent isolated CABG from January 1998 to June 2012, Takayasu's arteritis was identified in 5 patients. There were 3 female patients, and the mean age was 58±9 years. Takayasu's arteritis was diagnosed during preoperative evaluation for coronary artery disease in 4 patients, and the initial manifestation was angina pectoris in 4 patients. All of the patients underwent anaortic off-pump CABG (OPCAB) using the in situ left or right internal thoracic arteries (ITA); 3 patients had severe stenosis of the proximal left subclavian artery and the in situ right ITA was used instead. Medical treatment for inflammatory arteritis during the perioperative and follow-up period was performed if indicated. Early, 1-year, and 5-year angiographic results and clinical outcomes were analyzed.

Results

There was no surgical mortality, and all of the patients were discharged without complications on postoperative 8±2 days. Early postoperative (postoperative 2±1 days) angiography demonstrated a graft patency of 100% (12 of 12 distal anastomoses). One-year (13±3 months) angiography was performed in 4 patients, and all of the grafts were patent (100%, 9 of 9 distal anastomoses).

Conclusion

By performing anaortic OPCAB in patients with Takayasu's arteritis, we were able to avoid complications associated with manipulating an atherosclerotic and severely calcified ascending aorta. The early and mid-term graft patency of OPCAB in Takayasu's arteritis was maintained when concomitant with medical treatment.

Multiple bailout interventions in a case of Takayasu's arteritis

PURPOSE

Takayasu's arteritis (TA) is a non-specific, chronic, inflammatory panarteritis, affecting the aorta, its major branches and pulmonary arteries. The percutaneous or surgical revascularization in these patients is often difficult and challenging because of diffuse and multi-vessel involvement, difficulty in management of disease activity, and high rate of restenosis and re-intervention.

CASE REPORT

We report a 33-year-old man, a case of TA with fulminant active disease and multi-vessel involvement. His disease activity could not be suppressed with steroid treatment. He had multiple sequential bailout interventions of carotid, left main coronary and mesenteric arteries secondary to cerebro-vascular event, angina and mesenteric ischemia, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Despite comprehensive multi-specialty approach in management and also the global revascularization, he ultimately died of acute mesenteric ischemia. To our knowledge, there is no similar type of case being published in world literature till date.

Surgical outcome of aortic arch repair for patients with Takayasu arteritis

BACKGROUND

Takayasu arteritis can cause segmental dilatation or stenosis of the aorta and its major branches, and surgical treatment of it is still difficult. Our objective was to review late results of aortic arch repair for patients with Takayasu arteritis.

METHODS

Between 1987 and 2003, 21 patients underwent aortic arch repair under circulatory arrest. Diagnosis was performed by pathologic study of specimens for all patients. Total aortic arch repair was performed in 12 patients with separated branched grafts and in 2 patients with the island technique. Selective cerebral perfusion was used in 12 patients and retrograde cerebral perfusion in 2 patients in this type of surgery. Hemiarch replacement using retrograde cerebral perfusion was performed in 7 patients. Craniocervical vascular stenosis was found in 7 patients and aneurysm in 5 patients. The elephant trunk technique was used in 10 patients. The follow-up period was 6.2 +/- 4.2 years.

RESULTS

There was one hospital death due to renal failure, and two late deaths, both of which were sudden. Late in follow-up, a patient who had undergone hemiarch replacement 12 years previously required total aortic arch repair for dilatation of the distal arch. Three patients required thoracoabdominal aortic repair and one patient descending aortic repair for residual aortic dilatation late in follow-up. Postoperative spinal infarction occurred in one patient who underwent hemiarch replacement.

CONCLUSIONS

Surgical and late outcomes of aortic arch repair under circulatory arrest appear favorable, though late dilatation of the residual aorta is a matter of concern.

Reconstruction of Bilateral Branch Pulmonary Artery Stenosis Caused by Takayasu's Aortitis

A 63 year-old female presented with dyspnea on exertion. Her chest X-ray showed cardiomegaly, and right ventricular overload and tricuspid regurgitation were detected. Her pulmonary ventilation and blood flow scintigraphy findings were suspicious of pulmonary vascular disease; the diagnosis was pulmonary hypertension and bilateral branch pulmonary artery stenosis. After the inflammation settled, the stenotic bilateral branch pulmonary artery was reconstructed with a prosthetic vessel and the pulmonary pressure normalized immediately. A resected specimen revealed that the stenotic changes were from Takayasu's disease. The patient's postoperative course was uneventful, and pulmonary ventilation and blood scintigraphy returned to an almost normal range. At follow-up 5 years and 6 months after the operation, there was no evidence of pulmonary artery disease (eg, stenosis and/or ischemia) or of any change in the central vessels of the retina, the so-called Takayasu's retinopathy.

Takayasu's disease

Takayasu's arteritis (TA) is a chronic inflammatory disease of unknown etiology that can produce stenosis, occlusion, or aneurysmal degeneration of large arteries. TA occurs worldwide but disproportionately affects young females of Asian descent. A variable acute phase of largely constitutional symptoms is followed by a chronic phase in which symptoms related to arterial compromise predominate. Diagnosis is made using a combination of clinical and angiographic criteria. Initial therapy involves the use of corticosteroids to induce remission of acute phase activity, with the addition of cytotoxic medications for nonresponders. Angioplasty and stenting can be used in the treatment of shorter stenoses such as those encountered in the renal arteries. Surgical bypass is the preferred treatment of longer segment stenoses and occlusions. Bypass grafts should originate from unaffected arteries to ensure durable inflow. Endovascular therapy is effective initially but long-term durability data are lacking.

Descending aorta to carotid bypass for takayasu arteritis as a redo operation

In Takayasu arteritis recurrent brain ischemia, due to bypass graft failure, is frequent. Redo bypass grafting from the ascending aorta may be at risk if a failing but patent graft that is critical for brain blood flow is present, because partial clamping the ascending aorta may disturb graft flow if the ascending aorta is short. We report such a patient who successfully underwent redo bypass grafting from the descending aorta. In type I Takayasu arteritis, this operation may be valuable because the descending aorta is usually disease free and brain blood flow is maintained during the operation.

Takayasu's arteritis: management of left main stem stenosis

Takayasu arteritis is a chronic vasculitis involving the aorta and its main branches, the pulmonary arteries, and the coronary tree, and needs to be considered in a young patient with angina, in particular when pulses are absent. This case illustrates the limitations of exercise testing in diagnosing the extent of coronary artery disease and the risks associated with coronary angiography in patients with inflammatory disease in the left main stem coronary artery. It also highlights the novel use of non-invasive scanning with positron emission tomography using 18-fluorodeoxyglucose in assessing remission from this disease. Revascularisation was performed with percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty and stenting as an emergency procedure, but treatment of the restenosis with directional atherectomy was based on a review of the available literature. The lymphocytic alveolitis seen in this patient has not been previously described in Takayasu's disease.

Angiographic findings and surgical treatments of coronary artery involvement in Takayasu arteritis

BACKGROUND

Takayasu arteritis is associated with a low incidence of coronary artery involvement, such as stenosis, obstruction, aneurysm, and coronary steal syndrome, but coronary ischemia can be fatal.

METHODS

Between 1972 and April 2001, 81 of 130 patients given a diagnosis of Takayasu arteritis underwent selective coronary angiography, and among them, 31 patients (4 male and 27 female patients; mean age, 41.1 +/- 13.2 years) had abnormal coronary angiographic findings and were recruited for this study.

RESULTS

Abnormal coronary findings consisted of 24 coronary artery stenoses of greater than 75%, 3 coronary artery-bronchial artery anastomoses, 3 aneurysmal coronary ectasias, and 1 combined coronary ectasia and anastomosis. Among 24 patients with coronary stenosis, the ostium was most frequently involved (87.5%). Twenty-three of 24 patients with coronary artery stenoses were treated surgically. The mean follow-up duration was 9.65 +/- 6.9 years, with a 100% follow-up rate. Four fistulas and 4 aneurysms in 7 patients were not treated surgically. Coronary steal phenomenon was always associated with occluded pulmonary arteries and pulmonary hypertension. Aneurysmal coronary ectasia was related to severe aortic hypertension with or without aortic regurgitation and atypical coarctation. There were 2 (8.7%) in-hospital deaths and 3 (13%) late deaths. The actuarial survival rate, including in-hospital deaths, was 86.5% +/- 7.3% at 5 years and 81.4% +/- 8.4% at 10 years.

CONCLUSION

The incidence of coronary abnormalities is relatively low in patients with Takayasu arteritis; however, surgical treatment is recommended for patients with coronary ostial stenoses because coronary ischemia can be one of the major causes of death.

Left main trunk ostial stenosis and aortic incompetence in Takayasu's arteritis

A 41-year-old woman with recent onset of heart failure and angina due to aortic valve incompetence and critical left coronary ostium stenosis in the setting of Takayasu's arteritis is reported. The patient was successfully surgically treated by aortic valve replacement and coronary artery bypass with saphenous vein graft, showing a cardiac event-free 17 months follow-up. Takayasu's arteritis must be included among the possible causes of coronary artery disease and aortic valve incompetence in young female patients. Although chronic inflammation of the aortic wall may result in late graft occlusion, surgical therapy is effective for short and mid-term clinical improvement.

Simultaneous repair of stenosis in coronary and vertebral arteries and aortic regurgitation secondary to Takayasu's aortitis

We report a case of severe stenosis in the ostium of both the coronary artery and the proximal left vertebral artery and severe aortic regurgitation secondary to Takayasu's aortitis. A 47-year-old woman underwent simultaneous repair consisting of aortic valve replacement, triple coronary artery bypass grafting, and aorto-left vertebral artery bypass. Saphenous vein grafts to 3 coronary arteries and the left vertebral artery were proximally anastomosed on a bovine pericardial patch in the ascending aorta. Since the patient had severe preoperative ischemic symptoms from vertebral-basilar insufficiency, we clamped the vertebral artery during reconstruction under deep hypothermic circulation. The postoperative course was uncomplicated. Simultaneous repair of such multiple lesions requires meticulous planning of surgical procedures and circulatory assist systems.