Takayasu’s Arteritis and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus-A Rare Coexistence

Abstract

Takayasu arteritis, also known as “pulseless disease” is an inflammatory disease characterized by large caliber artery inflammation. Although tuberculosis and syphilis are known to be associated with Takayasu arteritis, it is rarely found in association with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE). We report a case of 28-year-old Indian female with SLE, on low dose corticosteroids, she presented with hypertension and developed sudden onset of abdominal pain. She was found to have features suggestive of large vessel vasculitis. The patient was treated with one month of high dose corticosteroids and discharged. She was reviewed, once inflammation subsided and underwent procedure of placement of a self-expandable stent. She had improvement of blood pressure immediate post procedure and reduction of abdominal pain and claudication pain after two weeks of follow up. Although, SLE is known to involve small and medium-sized arteries, large vessel involvement and features of Takayasu arteritis are extremely rare, clinically.

Keywords

• artery inflammation
• corticosteroids
• pulseless disease
• self expandable stent