Takayasll - Arteritis

A,ariery of infectious agents have been implicated the etiology of TA viz. streptococcus and ~Icobacteriumtuberculosis. Evidence of infection with ·uberculosis has been reported on the basis of presence ofco-existent tubercular lesion in lungs and para-arotic Ilmph nodes as well as report of presence of Langhans gl3nl cells in lesions olTA. It is important to note that in Japan where disease is widespread, tuberculosis has become almost extinct. Recent reports, however, have found no evidence of tuberculosis as an etiologic factor (3). It has been hypothesized that TA may be related to abnormal immune response to BCG vaccination (4).