When should I consider referring a patient with suspected Takayasu arteritis to a specialist?

Consider referring a patient with suspected Takayasu arteritis to a specialist (usually a rheumatologist or a vascular specialist) urgently when there is clinical suspicion of large vessel vasculitis, including symptoms such as limb claudication, blood pressure discrepancies between limbs, absent or diminished pulses, bruits, or systemic features like unexplained fever, weight loss, or elevated inflammatory markers.

Referral should be prompt to enable specialist diagnostic evaluation (including imaging such as ultrasound, MRI, or CT angiography) and initiation of treatment to prevent serious complications such as vascular occlusion or aneurysm formation.

In primary care, if Takayasu arteritis is suspected, do not delay referral while awaiting investigations; early specialist assessment is essential for diagnosis and management.