Angiographic features of 26 children with Takayasu's arteritis.

BACKGROUND: Takayasu's arteritis (TA) is a chronic idiopathic inflammatory disease affecting primarily the aorta, its proximal branches and the pulmonary arteries.

OBJECTIVES: To retrospectively review the angiograms of children with TA so as to describe the patterns of vascular involvement.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-six children with TA who differed from most other studies in that almost all of them presented with hypertension, reflecting the incidence of abdominal aortic and renal artery involvement.

RESULTS: The most consistent finding was stenosis of the aorta. Marginal irregularity/undulation of the aorta was also a useful angiographic diagnostic feature in subtle disease. The incidence of aneurysms was high compared to other studies and both fusiform and saccular aneurysms were encountered. Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) was successful in all eight patients in whom it was performed. MRI, CT angiography and US are discussed as less invasive imaging alternatives. TA is a significant cause of renovascular hypertension in children in South Africa where there is a high incidence of tuberculous infection. Knowledge of the angiographic features and pattern of aortic involvement is essential for diagnosis and initiation of early and appropriate treatment, including PTA.