ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Cardiac manifestations of Takayasu's arteritis are rarely reported in the literature. However, these symptoms are not rare and when they do occur, they determine the disease prognosis. Due to its frequency, its severe nature, and even sometimes diagnosis failure, high blood pressure is the major cause of cardiac manifestations. More specific cardiac manifestations of either coronary, valvular, or more rarely, myocardial origin may also occur. METHODS: Analysis of five cases of Takayasu's arteritis and a literature review allowed evaluation of both the frequency and characteristics of this disease. RESULTS: Four female and one male patients presenting with symptoms of Takayasu's arteritis, according to Fiessinger's score, were evaluated. Diagnosis of cardiac disease was based on clinical, echocardiographic and angiographic criteria. Four patients had related high blood pressure. Valvular manifestations were present in all the patients. They included mitral insufficiency (1 case); aortic insufficiency (2 cases), and both mitral and aortic insufficiency (2 cases). Two patients showed clinical manifestations of a myocardiac disease, and another showed coronary signs. Treatment did not involve surgery, including only antihypertensive drugs, nitrites, and diuretics associated with digitalin in case of cardiac failure. The disease outcome, including a 5-18 year follow-up, involved symptom decrease in all the patients. CONCLUSION: Despite the rarity of cardiac manifestations in patients suffering from Takayasu's arteritis, symptoms of this disease should always be investigated, as these manifestations alter the prognosis. Aortic insufficiency is the most frequently encountered cardiac manifestation.
Subject(s)
Aortic Valve Insufficiency/etiology , Cardiomyopathies/etiology , Coronary Disease/etiology , Hypertension/etiology , Mitral Valve Insufficiency/etiology , Takayasu Arteritis/diagnosis , Adolescent , Adult , Aortic Valve Insufficiency/diagnosis , Cardiomyopathies/diagnosis , Coronary Disease/diagnosis , Echocardiography , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Hypertension/diagnosis , Male , Mitral Valve Insufficiency/diagnosis , Prognosis , Retrospective Studies , Takayasu Arteritis/complications , Takayasu Arteritis/therapy , Time FactorsABSTRACT
In this paper, the authors report 8 cases of Takayasu disease presenting in the form of hypertension, observed in the Cardiology of Ibn Rochd University Hospital in Casablanca between 1983 and 1995. The majority of cases presented with renovascular HT, secondary to unilateral or bilateral renal artery stenosis. More rarely, the patients presented proximal hypertension secondary to coarctation of the aorta. Medical treatment was prescribed all 8 cases, associated with surgery in 8 cases.
