A Young Female Newly Diagnosed With Takayasu's Arteritis Masquerading As Cerebrovascular Stroke

Abstract

The condition known as Takayasu's disease or Takayasu's arteritis is a type of vascular inflammation that affects the large and medium arteries. It can lead to a reduction in blood flow to various parts of the body, and it can cause severe complications. Patients with this disease may not have specific symptoms, which can lead to their diagnosis not being confirmed. Takayasu's disease is believed to be a probable cause of stroke in young patients. Although stroke is a common cause of morbidity, it is usually not an initial presentation in Takayasu's disease. In this study, a young female with left-sided hemiparesis was diagnosed with Takayasu's disease after a clinical and angiographic examination.

Keywords: autoimmune vasculitis; cerebrovascular accident (stroke); ischemic stoke; stroke in the young; takayasu disease.

Figure 1. Non-contrast computed tomography of the patient.

(A, B) NCCT brain showing mild hypo density with loss of gray-white matter differentiation in the right posterior frontoparietal region. (C) Chronic ischemic foci in right frontal and parietal periventricular white matter. NCCT: non-contrast computed tomography

Figure 2. Magnetic resonance imaging of the patient.

(A) Restriction on diffusion imaging involving the right posterior frontoparietal cortical-subcortical region and (B) coronal FLAIR image reveal hyperintensity in the right parietal-temporal region. ADC: apparent diffusion coefficient; DW-MRI: diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging; FLAIR: fluid-attenuated inversion recovery

Figure 3. The patient's magnetic resonance angiography of extracranial arteries.

The image shows poor visualization of mid-distal segments of the right common carotid artery and almost the entire left common carotid artery. MR angiography of intracranial arteries did not reveal significant stenotic vessels.