[Aortic arch syndrome. Stenosis and obstruction of the sub-clavian artery in women (author's transl)].

Takayasu's disease evolves in two stages: The pre-obstructive state: frequently it gives rise to infectious diseases which often resemble rheumatic fever. Often there exist fever and joint pains. Laboratory examinations show the presence of an inflammatory process: increased ESR hypoalbuminuria and increased alpha-2 and gammaglobulins. Then one reaches the obstructive stage. Here the diagnosis of the disease is often suspected or confirmed. Often there are eye signs with the characteristic appearance of arteriovenous anastomoses in the fundus oculi. These signs were absent. The etiology is unknown. The authors propose the following definition: that this is a form of juvenile arteritis occurring, above all, in women and involving one or other of the main aortic trunks, but which may be diffuse. The disease is often inflammatory. The etiology is unknown.