Rare case of Takayasu's arteritis associated with Crohn's disease

Intern Med. 2011;50(15):1581-5. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.50.5406. Epub 2011 Aug 1.

Abstract

Takayasu's arteritis (TA) and Crohn's disease (CD) are chronic inflammatory diseases of uncertain etiology. Although co-existence of these rare diseases is estimated to occur in 1 in 10 billion individuals, a theoretically unexpected association has been reported in several patients and it is suggested that those associations may have been more than an unusual coincidence. Herein, we report a case of TA associated with clinically inactive CD. A Japanese woman was diagnosed with colonic CD at the age of 15, developed aortic valve regurgitation at 19, and then presented with general fatigue, low grade fever, and painful sensations in her left arm at 25. She was diagnosed with TA based on computed tomography scanning and magnetic resonance angiography findings, and treatments with prednisolone and cyclosporine were started. Thereafter, valve replacement and right coronary artery bypass graft surgery were performed. The possible pathophysiological mechanism responsible for concurrent existence of TA and CD may be associated with immune disorders. Early diagnosis of vascular lesions for patients with inflammatory bowel disease is highly encouraged.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aortic Valve Insufficiency / complications
  • Aortic Valve Insufficiency / surgery
  • Aspirin / administration & dosage
  • Coronary Artery Bypass
  • Crohn Disease / complications*
  • Crohn Disease / diagnosis
  • Cyclosporine / administration & dosage
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Female
  • Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Angiography
  • Prednisolone / administration & dosage
  • Takayasu Arteritis / complications*
  • Takayasu Arteritis / diagnosis
  • Takayasu Arteritis / drug therapy
  • Takayasu Arteritis / surgery
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Warfarin / administration & dosage
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Warfarin
  • Cyclosporine
  • Prednisolone
  • Aspirin