[Takayasu's arteritis without manifest arterial stenoses as a cause of fever of unknown origin].
METHODS
Two women, aged 59 and 53 years, presented with a history of several months of classical fever of unknown origin (FUO), largely normal physical findings, and elevated markers of systemic inflammation.


METHODS
After initially unremarkable findings, duplex-sonography detected circular, hypoechogenic wall thickening of the axillary arteries without hemodynamically significant narrowing of the lumen. 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positrone emission-tomography (18F-FDG-PET) revealed marked vascular tracer uptake in the aorta and in the proximal arteries of the arms and legs. TREATMENT AND FOLLOW-UP: The diagnosis of Takayasu's arteritis was made, and high-dose prednisone treatment was initiated. Within a few days both patients became asymptomatic.


CONCLUSIONS
Large vessel vasculitis is a known cause of FUO. Duplex-sonography and 18F-FDG-PET are able to detect these disorders at an early stage before the onset of clinically relevant arterial obstructions. More widespread use of these techniques may show that large-vessel vasculitis is more common than previously thought.
Tatò
F
F
Klinikum der Ludwig-Maximilians Universität, Medizinische Poliklinik, Gefässzentrum Innenstadt -- Angiologie, München. federico.tato@med.uni-muenchen.de
Weiss
M
M
Hoffmann
U
U
D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases; D005260:Female; D005335:Fever of Unknown Origin / Q000209:etiology*; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation; D008875:Middle Aged; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D013625:Takayasu Arteritis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy
D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D011241:Prednisone