Title:Pediatric Takayasu Arteritis: A Review of the Literature
Volume: 18
Issue: 4
Author(s): Fatih Haslak, Mehmet Yildiz, Sezgin Sahin, Amra Adrovic, Kenan Barut and Ozgur Kasapcopur*
Affiliation:
- Department of Pediatric Rheumatology, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Cerrahpasa Medical School, Istanbul, Turkey
Keywords:
Takayasu arteritis, systemic vasculitis, rheumatoid vasculitis, pediatrics, rheumatology, hypertension.
Abstract: Takayasu arteritis (TA) is the third most common vasculitis of childhood and is extremely
rare. It is mainly characterized by chronic, autoimmune, and granulomatous inflammation of the
aorta and its major branches. Women under 40 years of age are mostly affected. It occurs for the
first time in childhood in about 30% of affected individuals. Initially, it presents nonspecific constitutional
findings. Since there is no specific laboratory finding, diagnosis is challenging. The gold
standard imaging method for diagnosis is conventional angiography. Delay in diagnosis can cause
devastating consequences. Therefore, in cases presenting with nonspecific findings, with hypertension
and high acute phase reactants, the diagnosis should be suspected and confirmed with appropriate
imaging method, and treatment should be started immediately. Immunosuppressive agents are
the mainstay of the treatment. Biological agents are successful in refractory cases, and endovascular
revascularization methods are used in the treatment of complications.