Takayasu's arteritis is a rare inflammatory disease of unknown etiology that affects the aorta and its branches and causes obstruction of the aortic arch vessels. It is thought to be an autoimmune disease.
Although the disease has been reported worldwide, it shows a predilection for young Asian women. Females with this disease outnumber males by 8:1, and the age of onset is typically between 15 and 30 years.