Here is an interesting and rare essay tracing Takayasu’s Arteritis (TAK) from its early detection as ‘pulseless disease’ to its christening as a unique systemic vasculitis. The essay talks about the work of Dr. Mikito Takayasu, who reported the characteristic retinal vascular abnormalities in a young woman in 1908, later diagnosed with TAK. The essay also mentions preceding cases, the evolution of terminology — aortic arch syndrome and pulseless disease — and the eventual adoption of the term Takayasu’s Arteritis. The narrative presents a brief biographical account of Dr Takayasu, his medical career and contributions to ophthalmology, highlighting how his careful observations in a single unusual case helped identify a rare disease that might have otherwise continued to exist as a silent killer. Read the full article here…
