Takayasu's disease presenting as convulsive syncope which had been misinterpreted as epilepsy: a case report.
BACKGROUND
Takayasu's arteritis is a chronic vasculitis mainly involving the aorta and its main branches. The disease has protean clinical manifestation ranging from asymptomatic to catastrophic illness.


METHODS
A 19-year-old woman of Asian origin was referred to our neurology out-patient department for the management of refractory seizures. She reported several episodes of a loss of consciousness with tonic posturing when she assumed an upright position, which was accompanied by constitutional symptoms. A clinical examination showed orthostatic hypotension and an investigation confirmed the diagnosis of Takayasu's disease with presentation as convulsive syncope.


CONCLUSIONS
Our case highlights the importance of a thorough clinical history and physical examination in order to distinguish events mimicking epileptic seizure. We also describe an unusual presentation of Takayasu's disease with convulsive syncope and systemic constitutional symptoms.
Department of Neurology, Narayana Medical College and Superspeciality Hospital, Chintareddypalem, Nellore-2 AP, India. bneuro_5@rediffmail.com.
Bindu
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Menon
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Himabindu