FEMENINA 59 AÑOS CON ARTERITIS DE TAKAYASU

Abstract

Background: Takayasu´s arteritis is a granulomatous vasculitis that affects mainly young women up to 30 years old. It's a rare and infrequent condition.  We report a late diagnostic case with images showing important collateral vessel formation. Case description: A 59-year old woman was admitted to the Internal Medicine Department, having previously been  diagnosed with hypertension at age of 29 and never been studied by a secondary cause.  At the present  time shewas admitted due to a heart attack without ST elevation  and a doppler ultrasound performed showed absence of flow on both carotid arteries. A CT scan demonstrated an important formation of collateral vessels that nourished the right subclavian artery through the posterior cervical region. Upon physical examination, there were no pulses but the left radial and right pedial. Conclusion: Takayasu´s arteritis should be considered into the differential diagnosis of secondary causes of high blood pressure. In this particular case, the diagnosis was made by CT scan characteristic findings, which can be helpful when collateral vessels and absence of flow of the main vessels are present.