Total Occlusion of Abdominal Aorta in Takayasu Arteritis

Abstract

Takayasu arteritis is a type of large vessel vasculitis that mainly affects the aorta and its major branches. The disease can have a myriad of manifestations ranging from non-specific symptoms of low-grade fever and weight loss to lower limb claudication. A 21-year-old woman presented with uncontrolled hypertension for the last six months. The CT aortogram revealed total occlusion of the abdominal aorta with collateral vessels formed by the right and left internal mammary artery. We present a case of Takayasu arteritis in a 21-year-old woman with complete obstruction of the abdominal aorta. She was treated only with oral medications. The associated review of the literature is also discussed.

Chronic Complete Distal Aortic Occlusion and Pulmonary Embolism—Atypical Antiphospholipid Syndrome?

“…The gradual development of symptoms over nearly five years and the presence of diffuse arterial calcifications—without causing significant stenoses—on the arteriography images ( Figure 2 ) also suggested a possible atherosclerotic etiology of the occlusion. Cases of complete aortic occlusion due to vasculitis have been described in the literature [ 5 , 6 ]. However, our patient had no clinical characteristics of Takayasu arteritis or giant cell arteritis.…”