Objectives
Takayasu's arteritis (TA) is a rare chronic inflammatory disease of the aorta and its major branches. We aimed to describe clinical features and outcome of TA in children and young adults.
Material and Method
All patients of TA admitted in the Department of Pediatrics, PGIMER, and Chandigarh were retrospectively studied.
Results
The mean age of presentation was 14 years (range 5-20 years) with 8 males and 12 females. Hypertension was the commonest mode of presentation seen in 65.5% (13/20) of patients followed by systemic symptoms. Eight patients presented with congestive heart failure with severe Left ventricular systolic dysfunction were present in 50% patients. 2 children died during hospital admission. The cause of mortality was heart failure in both the patients. Inflammation markers were abnormal in 65% cases. CT angiography and conventional angiography showed that abdominal aorta was involved in 30 % cases, renal artery was involved in 45% cases, subclavian artery in 25%, Superior mesenteric artery in 20%, carotid and celiac artery in 15% cases. Treatment modalities included antihypertensive drugs (n = 15), anti-tubercular therapy (n = 9), prednisone (n = 15) and methotrexate (n = 7). Thoraco abdominal angioplasty was performed in 4 patients, renal angioplasty in 2 patients, carotid angioplasty in 2 patients, Superior mesenteric artery and subclavian artery angioplasty in 1 patient. All had excellent results except one who had persisting severe LV systolic dysfunction.
Conclusion-Hypertension & heart failure are the commonest presenting features of Takayasu arteritis in children.