To retrospectively analyze the distribution of artery involvement above the aortic arch and differences incidence of cerebral ischemic in patients with Takayasu’s arteritis (TA) by color Doppler flow imaging (CDFI).

A total of 84 cases (aged from 11 to 70 years old, median age 39 years old) continuous observed from August 2005 to June 2013 were included in this study. All patients were detected by CDFI and confirmed by digital subtraction angiography (DSA) and clinical examination. The distribution of the involved arteries were analyzed.

A total of 924 vessels (84 patients) was detected, 352 (38.1%) arteries involved inflammatory lesions. The prevalence rate of female was higher than male (92.9% and 7.1%) significantly. The symptoms of cerebral ischemic included dizziness, syncope, TIA, amaurosis etc. The involvement rate of common carotid artery (CCA) was the highest (94.0%), followed by the subclavian arterythe (SA) (82.1%). The detecting rate of bilateral CCA was higher than that of bilateral SA, 75% and 50% (χ²=15.732, P=0.003), respectively. The rate of combined lesions of CCA and SA were higher in left (64.3%) than the right 56% (χ²=12.777, P=0.001). Most patients had multiple vascular (≥ 3 vessels) diseases (69.1%). No significant difference was found in the incidence of cerebral ischemia symptoms in patients with bilateral CCA or SA lesions (74.6% with78.6%) (χ²=0.219, P=0.411). No significant difference was found inthe patients with left or right CCA combined with SA lesions (76.5% with 76.4% , χ²=1.230, P=0.602) also. The incidence of cerebral ischemia for greater than 3 vessel disease was significantly higher than less vessels (69.1% with 30.9%) (χ²=6.674, P=0.010).

The study in the distribution of aortic arch vascular lesion for the patients with Takayasu arteritis by CDFI is valuable for the early detection and treatment of vascular lesions, and decresing the incidence of ischemic cerebrovascular disease.