Takayasu arteritis in an adolescent boy- A case report

Abstract

Takayasu arteritis commonly known as Pulseless disease is a large vessel vasculitis affecting the aorta and its branches. 20 percent of the patients present under the age of 19 years. Clinical features are nonspecific which include      fever, malaise, weight loss, headache, myalgia, arthralgia, abdominal pain, dizziness and hypertension. We hereby  report a case of Takayasu arteritis in a 11 year old boy who presented with seizures, headache, claudication pain and fever. On examination he had hypertension and absent pulse in the right radial and brachial arteries. CT angiography            revealed left renal artery stenosis and a narrowed right              subclavian artery. Diagnosis was made based on the              American college of Rheumatology criteria and this patient had fulfilled 5 out of 6 features of the criteria. We are              presenting this case for its rarity in children and also to            emphasize the need of high index of suspicion in the             diagnosis.