Diagnostic dilemmas in a case of early-onset large vessel vasculitis

Abstract

Vasculitides are inflammatory disorders which affect the blood vessels. There are three major categories of vasculitides depending on the size of the injured vessels. Although each category can affect any size artery, usually large vessel vasculitis affects large arteries. Takayasu arteritis and Giant Cell arteritis are known to be the two main types of large vessel arteritis. We present the case of a patient with a delayed diagnosis of Takayasu disease who sequentially develops a series of complications. The atypical evolution of the disease confirms once again the complexity of the vasculitic disorders and raises questions about the understanding of their pathophysiologic mechanisms.