Arteritis

Inflammation of an artery wall, causing narrowing or complete blockage of the affected artery, reduced blood flow, and, in some cases, thrombosis and tissue damage. There are several types, including Buerger’s disease, an arteritis that affects the limbs, causing pain, numbness, and, in severe cases, gangrene. Polyarteritis nodosa, a serious autoimmune disorder, can affect arteries in any part of the body, especially the heart and kidneys. Temporal arteritis affects arteries in the scalp and may affect the eyes. A rare type of arteritis is Takayasu’s arteritis, which is thought to be an autoimmune disorder. This usually affects young women and involves the arteries that branch from the aorta into the neck and arms.