Nonspecific aortoarteritis (Takayasu’s disease): a clinical case in pediatric practice

Abstract

The article presents modern data on a relatively rare and life-threatening disease - non-specific aortoarteritis (Takayasu's disease) and its features in childhood. This disease belongs to the group of systemic vasculitis, which is based on non-specific non-infectious inflammation of the aorta and its branches, which leads to deformation of the vascular lumen and secondary tissue ischemia. Damage to vital organs in this disease leads to the development of severe complications and the risk of sudden death. Purpose - to cite a case of Takayasu's disease from our own practice, taking into account the rarity of the disease, lack of awareness and clinical vigilance of pediatricians and family doctors regarding this pathology. A clinical case of non-specific aortoarteritis in a 17-year-old patient who was examined and treated at the Ivano-Frankivsk Regional Children's Hospital was considered. Features of clinical symptoms, laboratory biomarkers, methods of visualization the level of lesions of main vessels are given. Information on methods of treatment of this patient according to the updated recommendations of the European Antirheumatic League (EULAR, 2018) is provided. Conclusions. Nonspecific aortoarteritis is a rare, difficult to diagnose and insufficiently studied autoimmune disease. Late diagnosis significantly increases the risk of a child's sudden death. Modern non-invasive imaging methods are crucial for making a diagnosis, assessing the extent of the disease and choosing treatment tactics. The research was carried out in accordance with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. The informed consent of the child's parents and the patient was obtained for the description of the clinical case. No conflict of interests was declared by the authors.