Orthopedic & Muscular System: Current Research
Open Access

Young caucasian lady with takayasu arthritis in remission and further stroke

2^nd International Conference and Exhibition on Orthopedics & Rheumatology

August 19-21, 2013 Embassy Suites Las Vegas, NV, USA

S. Ramanathan

Posters: Orthop Muscul Syst

Abstract :

T akayasu arteritis (TA) is an uncommon disease of young women, characterized by chronic granulomatous vasculitis of medium and large arteries especially of the aorta and its main branches. It is common in Asia and Mexico but rare in Europe and North America. The rarity of the disease results in low clinical awareness in the Western world and a longer delay in diagnosis compared with Asia. In addition to constitutional symptoms, it causes various clinical morbidities, such as arm claudication, decreased arterial pulses, carotidynia and hypertension. Neurological symptoms occur in about 50% of cases but stroke occurs in about 10% of patients with Takayasu?s Arteritis2. The rarity of the disease and especially such a presentation can cause considerable delay in the diagnosis and treatment. 1. We report one such case and emphasize the need for thorough evaluation of young patients with neurological symptoms to establish the underlying etiology. 20 yrs old Caucasian lady was admitted with transient episode of parasthesia on both arms and legs, slurred speech lasting for 4 hours. She stopped taking fludrocortisone last 5 days before admission for severe hypotension. On examination, BP (Hypotensive) 80/50mm Hg absent Radial pulse bilaterally. MRI head showed multiple left sided frontal-parietal watershed infarcts. MRA showed occlusion of both common carotid arteries, narrowing of the origin of the left vertebral artery, occlusion of Right and left subclavian artery. Causes of ischemic stroke in Takayasu?s disease include 1. Embolism from stenotic or occlusive lesions in the aortic arch and its main branches, cardiac disease, hypertension and dilative pathology in branches of the aortic arch. 2. Klos et al. Takayasu?s disease who had ischemic stroke due to intracranial involvement, the cause of infarction was proposed to be vasculitis. 3. High rates of atherosclerotic plaques and increased intima media thickness are present in chronic inflammatory diseases such as Takayasu?s arteritis.

Biography :

S.Ramanathan (M.R.C.P) is currently working in Rheumatology as a Core medical trainee in Kent NHS trust