[Takayasu's arteritis--case report and review of the literature].
A 26 year old Albanian woman presented with intermittent claudication of upper limbs in association with alleviation of radial pulses, reduction of arterial pressures, bilateral axillary bruits and subocclusive lesions of proximal part of both humeral arteries on arteriography and MRI. Takayasu's arteritis was diagnosed according to ACR criteria. A treatment of prednisone was started together with methotrexate. The response was favourable and symptoms like claudication and malaise vanished. Takayasu's arteritis is a vasculitis which affects large vessels such as aorta and its main branches. This disease involves mainly premenopausal women; it is very rare in Europe. Diagnosis is lying on clinical features and arteriography results. Treatment of choice is corticosteroids, and immunosuppressors; sometimes a surgical procedure is necessary if stenosis is fixed.
Schurch
M A
MA
Service de rhumatologie, médecine physique et réhabilitation, CHUV, Lausanne.
Gerster
J C
JC
D000328:Adult; D000792:Angiography; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007383:Intermittent Claudication / Q000209:etiology; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017697:Premenopause; D013625:Takayasu Arteritis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D011241:Prednisone; D008727:Methotrexate