Takayasu's arteritis in pregnancy complicated by peripartum aortic dissection.
BACKGROUND
We describe a patient with a known diagnosis of Takayasu's arteritis who presented late in the third trimester. She was delivered by caesarean section and her postpartum course was complicated by aortic dissection.


METHODS
This report is the first to describe peripartum aortic dissection in a patient with known Takayasu's arteritis.


CONCLUSIONS
Takayasu's arteritis should be regarded as a risk factor for aortic dissection. It is important to treat systemic hypertension in Takayasu's arteritis patients and suspect the diagnosis of aortic dissection in any pregnant patient complaining of chest pain as dissection is a leading cause of maternal mortality in the developed world.
Lakhi
Nisha A
NA
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Brooklyn Hospital Centre, New York, New York, USA. nlakhi@yahoo.com
Jones
Johannes
J
D000328:Adult; D000784:Aortic Dissection / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D001011:Aorta; D001014:Aortic Aneurysm / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D002585:Cesarean Section; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D011247:Pregnancy; D011249:Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D013625:Takayasu Arteritis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis