A patient with familial Takayasu's arteritis presenting with fever of unknown origin.
Takayasu's arteritis rarely presents with fever of unknown origin. We describe a 14-year-old girl who was admitted with a 2-month history of fever of unknown origin associated with vague pain in her left upper arm. The constitutional symptoms responded to a trial of steroid therapy for suspected collagen-vascular disease, but flared up when the dose was tapered. An asymmetric radial pulse was recognized incidentally during follow-up examination; diagnosis of Takayasu's arteritis was confirmed by Duplex ultrasonography and angiography. Takayasu's arteritis must be considered when evaluating children with fever of unknown origin, especially those with a positive family history. Careful assessment of the peripheral vascular system with better interpretation of limb symptoms should allow early, appropriate treatment to prevent irreversible vascular damage.
Tsai
M J
MJ
Department of Pediatrics, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
Lin
S C
SC
Wang
J K
JK
Chou
C C
CC
Chiang
B L
BL
D000293:Adolescent; D005260:Female; D005335:Fever of Unknown Origin / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D013625:Takayasu Arteritis / Q000150:complications* / Q000235:genetics