title: Takayasu arteritis as a cause of arterial hypertension. Case report and literature review.
abstract: We report a 16-year-old girl in whom Takayasu arteritis (TA) was manifested mainly by severe arterial hypertension on her right arm, which was detected during a routine examination at school. Her systolic blood pressure on the right arm was significantly higher than that on the left one. There was also a pressure difference between the right arm and legs. The pulse of the left external carotid artery and that of the left radial artery was absent. Vascular bruits over interscapular and right supra- and subclavian areas were heard on auscultation. The diagnosis of TA was confirmed by a spiral computed tomography angiography, which showed a thickened thoracic aortic wall and narrowing of its lumen. In addition, complete occlusion of the left common carotid artery and the left subclavian artery was observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The rarity of the disorder and the heterogeneous nature of its clinical manifestation predispose to a late diagnosis and delayed treatment. Our report highlights the fact that the condition can and does occur in a pediatric population in Europe and hence must be considered in patients presenting with suggestive symptoms and signs, especially in young patients with unexplained hypertension. Clinical suspicion and proper imaging are crucial for the correct diagnosis and management of patients with TA. A brief review of literature completes this report.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Medical University of Lublin, ul. Chodźki 2, 20-093 Lublin, Poland. elzbietasadurska@o2.pl
authors.forename: Elżbieta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sadurska
authors.forename: Renata
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jawniak
authors.forename: Marek
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Majewski
authors.forename: Elżbieta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Czekajska-Chehab
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000209:etiology*; D013625:Takayasu Arteritis / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D036542:Tomography, Spiral Computed