Takayasu arteritis in Mexico: a 38-year clinical perspective through literature review.

A literature search covering national reports since the first published in Mexico (1957), discloses 237 adults and 55 children with a definitive diagnosis of Takayasu's arteritis. This condition was first recognized by an ophtalmologist in 1946, and it was communicated 10 years after his observation. Since 1957, 11 clinical papers on Takayasu's arteritis had been published in Mexico and abroad; in contrast few papers were published in other Latinamerican countries and even in North America. Takayasu's arteritis in Mexico follows the clinical pattern described in Asian reports, it affects mainly non-caucasic young women, is a chronic disease which causes prominent cardiovascular complaints. Children developed a systemic disease with higher morbility and mortality. Uncommon diseases, such as Takayasu's arteritis represent an unique opportunity to compare clinical and biological profile among different populations to gain valuable knowledge and understanding of ethiopathogenesis.