For patients

Takayasu arteritis

Takayasu, large-vessel vasculitis

Are you a clinician? See the clinical version of this page.

The short versionTakayasu arteritis affects large blood vessels and needs careful pregnancy planning, mainly around blood pressure, which can be hard to measure and control. With good planning and monitoring, many people have successful pregnancies. Care is shared with a high-risk pregnancy team.

Careful blood-pressure monitoring is the heart of a safe Takayasu pregnancy.

What to know

Blood pressure (a special challenge)

Narrowed arteries can make blood pressure readings falsely low in one or more limbs, so your team measures where the reading is most reliable. Controlling blood pressure is the single most important part of a safe Takayasu pregnancy: high blood pressure and pre-eclampsia are the main complications.

Pregnancy complications

Takayasu raises the chance of pregnancy complications, and the risk depends heavily on whether the disease is active. Among women who were pregnant at or after diagnosis, complications happened in 40 in 100 pregnancies overall: about 64 in 100 when the disease was active, but 24 in 100 when it was quiet. Pre-eclampsia is the most common problem. More than 5 in 100 developed a serious complication affecting the heart or blood vessels.

Planning ahead

Getting the disease quiet before pregnancy is the most important thing you can do, since active disease is by far the biggest driver of complications. Stopping smoking matters too. Your team assesses your blood vessels and heart, and plans care jointly with obstetrics.

Medicines

Steroids and pregnancy-compatible immune medicines can be continued. Low-dose aspirin may be advised. Some medicines are stopped before pregnancy. If your Takayasu needs stronger treatment, a TNF inhibitor or tocilizumab may be used, and both of these are options that can be continued in pregnancy when needed.

The numbers, in plain terms

64 in 100 vs 24 in 100

Obstetric complications occurred in about 64 in 100 pregnancies when Takayasu was active, versus 24 in 100 when it was quiet.

46 in 100 vs 5 in 100

Pre-eclampsia affected about 46 in 100 pregnancies with active disease, versus 5 in 100 with inactive disease.

iThis page helps you prepare a conversation with your care team. It does not replace individual medical advice. Always confirm your own plan with your rheumatology and pregnancy team.

When to call your team

Severe headache, vision changes, or swelling (possible pre-eclampsia): this is the most common complication.
New chest pain, breathlessness, fainting, or weakness or numbness on one side.
Reduced baby movements, or any bleeding.
Keep up your blood-pressure checks, including after birth, when some complications occur.