Restoration of vision by endovascular revascularization in Takayasu arteritis: A case series

Therapeutic Management of Ocular Ischemia in Takayasu's Arteritis: A Case-Based Systematic Review

Background

Takayasu’s arteritis (TA) is a rare, chronic granulomatous large-vessel vasculitis that can lead to ocular ischemia. Ocular outcomes after therapeutic management in TA remain largely unknown. We herein conduct a case-based systematic review to address the current treatment options in this particular cohort.

Methods

PubMed, Medline, and EMBASE databases were searched pertaining to ocular outcomes after systemic treatment in TA. Studies reporting ocular examinations before and after treatment in TA patients with ocular ischemia were included. Clinical characteristics, therapies, ocular outcomes, and complications were recorded.

Results

A 29-year-old woman with newly diagnosed TA showed dramatic regression of Takayasu’s retinopathy (TR) following balloon angioplasty. Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) was used as a novel strategy for subsequent follow-up. A total of 117 eyes of 66 patients with a median age of 27 years were included for systematic review. TR was the most common ocular manifestation. Oral steroids were prescribed in nearly all patients (n = 65), followed by the use of methotrexate and antiplatelet therapy. Of the patients, 65.8% and 34.2% underwent open surgery and endovascular procedure, respectively. The median follow-up period was 12 weeks (interquartile range 8–33.5). Surgical therapy showed better ocular improvement (including visual and imaging responses) in both acute and chronic vision loss, along with fewer complications than medical therapy alone. In the surgical group, the visual prognosis was significantly better in patients with initial visual acuity better than 20/200 (p = 0.03) and those who underwent surgery before stage III TR (p = 0.01). Ocular outcomes were equivalent in the two surgical approaches.

Conclusion

Clinicians should be familiar with ophthalmic manifestations of this potentially treatable complication in TA. Compared with medical therapy alone, surgical intervention might be a better choice for both acute and chronic vision loss. Surgery is best recommended before the onset of irreversible ischemia to the globe. A combined regimen (oral steroids, immunosuppressants, and antiplatelet drugs) might be effective for those with surgical contradictions or reluctance to an invasive procedure. Physicians should be aware of the importance of ocular examinations, including OCTA, during the diagnosis and follow-up in TA.

Visual outcome after endovascular intervention in Takayasu arteritis

Takayasu arteritis is a chronic multisystem vasculitis which has been known to be associated with myriad of ophthalmological manifestations. Steroids and immunomodulators are the mainstay of medical management in early stages of disease. We report the case of a 15-year-old girl with complaints of diminution of vision in both the eyes. Her ophthalmic examination suggested a diagnosis of Takayasu retinopathy with posterior ischemic optic neuropathy in her left eye and ocular ischemic syndrome in the right eye. Digital subtraction angiography revealed a significant narrowing of major vessels originating from the arch of aorta and the left vertebral artery. She underwent left subclavian artery and left vertebral artery balloon angioplasty followed by left vertebral artery stenting. Her vision improved significantly postprocedure, suggesting that endovascular intervention in the later stages of disease is a promising treatment modality for Takayasu retinopathy.

Pulseless and blindness - An ophthalmologist's role in diagnosing Takayasu arteritis: Case series and brief review of literature

PURPOSE

To study the initial presenting symptoms of Takayasu arteritis in unsuspecting patients.

METHODS

The underlying systemic condition was suspected in five subjects at a tertiary eye care center based on their ocular features. Similar reports in the literature were collated and analyzed for the common presenting features of undiagnosed Takayasu arteritis.

RESULTS

The most common presenting ophthalmic symptoms were vision loss (86.8%), ocular pain (21.1%), eye redness (18.4%), and photophobia (5.3%). There were no reports of glaucoma at presentation. Pupillary abnormalities (42.1%), microaneurysms in retinal mid-periphery (42.1%) and venous engorgement (28.9%) were the most common presenting signs. Despite systemic symptoms such as headache, dizziness, fatigue, weakness, arm claudication, fever, anorexia, weight loss, and syncope in 76.3% of cases, the patients in this series had never sought medical care before developing ocular symptoms.

CONCLUSION

Takayasu arteritis may remain latent until the ophthalmic complications compel the patient to seek medical attention. Hence, ophthalmologists need to be aware of the seemingly innocuous presentations of the disease.