Takayasu arteritis (TA) is a chronic vasculitis involving large vessels of unknown aetiology, a disease that is more common among the Asian population and predominant in young women. Cardiac manifestations include hypertension and involvement of the cardiac valves, myocardium and coronary arteries. Surgery on these patients is always a challenge given the tissue quality and the disease activity. They are prone to long-term complications such as restenosis and graft occlusion, hence requiring lifelong surveillance.
The prevalence of coronary artery disease (CAD) in TA ranges from 9 to 11%. Coronary artery bypass grafting is preferred to percutaneous coronary intervention, as the latter has a high rate of restenosis and major adverse cardiovascular events. As left subclavian artery is commonly involved, saphenous vein graft is advised as a conduit rather than internal mammary artery.…
