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Case Reports
. 2024 Oct 17;38(2):187-190.
doi: 10.1080/08998280.2024.2413818. eCollection 2025.

Amaurosis fugax in Takayasu arteritis mimicking migraine with visual aura

Anubhav Singh  1 , Faiza Khan  1 , Reniba Babu  1 , Iqra Qazi  1 , Ahmad Qurie  2
Affiliations
Case Reports

Amaurosis fugax in Takayasu arteritis mimicking migraine with visual aura

Anubhav Singh et al. Proc (Bayl Univ Med Cent). .

Abstract

Takayasu arteritis is a rare vasculitis commonly seen in young women. Amaurosis fugax and headache are visual presentations of Takayasu arteritis. Migraine with visual aura is a common condition affecting young women, and differentiating migraine from Takayasu presenting with visual symptoms and headache can be challenging. We present a case of a young woman initially misdiagnosed with migraine with aura, who was later found to have amaurosis fugax as an early manifestation of Takayasu arteritis.

Keywords: Case report; Takayasu arteritis; large-vessel vasculitis; migraine.

Plain language summary

Takayasu arteritis is a rare form of large vessel vasculitis that is notoriously difficult to diagnose given the nonspecific presentation and lack of reliable laboratory markers. Thus, diagnosis is often delayed, which can lead to complications depending on the involved vessel territories.Diagnosis of Takayasu arteritis relies on multimodal vessel imaging tests to demonstrate involvement of multiple vessel territories and absence of atherosclerotic changes in involved vessels.

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Conflict of interest statement

The planners and faculty for this activity have no relevant financial relationships to disclose. The authors report no funding. The patient consented to publication of this case report.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
(a) CTA of the thorax showing significant smooth tapering of the left common carotid artery. (b) CTA of the abdomen showing tapering stenosis of the infrarenal aorta and right renal artery. (c) CTA of the thorax showing left common carotid stenosis, with no calcification. (d) Sagittal section of CTA of the abdomen further demonstrating tapering stenosis of the infrarenal aorta and right renal artery.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
(a) Initial MRI from April 2022 showing stenosis of the right internal carotid artery siphon. (b) MRI from October 2023 showing increased stenosis of the right internal carotid artery siphon.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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