Abstract: Delayed Diagnosis of Takayasu's Arteritis: Total Abdominal Aorta Occlusion Treated with Axillo-Bifemoral Bypass

Delayed Diagnosis of Takayasu's Arteritis: Total Abdominal Aorta Occlusion Treated with Axillo-Bifemoral Bypass

HAMIDE KART-KOSEOGLU, A. EFTAL YUCEL, ATILAY TASDELEN, and FATIH BOVYAT

ABSTRACT.

Takayasu's arteritis is an inflammatory vasculitis that primarily affects the aorta and its major branches. Delayed diagnosis is common, and is largely attributed to the variable and nonspecific presentation of the initial symptoms. Involvement of the abdominal aorta causes severe claudication of the lower extremities, and bypass surgery is required in some cases. We describe a case in which diagnosis was delayed. Total occlusion of the abdominal aorta was successfully treated with axillo-bifemoral bypass. (J Rheumatol 2004;31:393-5)

Key Indexing Terms:

DELAYED DIAGNOSIS
TAKAYASU'S ARTERITIS
AXILLO-BIFEMORAL BYPASS

From the Division of Rheumatology, Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, and Department of Radiology, Baskent University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.

H. Kart-Koseoglu, MD, Assistant Professor; A.E. Yucel, MD, MSc, Associate Professor, Chief, Division of Rheumatology; A. Tasdelen, MD, Professor, Department of Cardiovascular Surgery; F. Bovyat, MD, Associate Professor, Department of Radiology.

Address reprint requests to Dr. H. Kart-Köseoglu, Division of Rheumatology, Baskent University Faculty of Medicine, Fevzi cakmak cad. 10.sok, Bahcelievler 06490, Ankara, Turkey. E-mail: hamidekartkoseoglu@yahoo.co.uk

Submitted March 7, 2003; revision accepted August 28, 2003.