warfarin and Takayasu-Arteritis

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.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aortic Valve Insufficiency; Aspirin; Coronary Artery Bypass; Crohn Disease; Cyclosporine; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Angiography; Prednisolone; Takayasu Arteritis; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Warfarin; Young Adult

Topics: Anticoagulants; Aspirin; Carotid Stenosis; Diagnosis, Differential; Female; Glucocorticoids; Heparin; Humans; Immunosuppressive Agents; Ischemic Attack, Transient; Methylprednisolone; Prednisone; Takayasu Arteritis; Treatment Outcome; Ultrasonography; Warfarin; Young Adult

The authors describe a 46-year-old Japanese woman who had Takayasu's arteritis associated with nephrotic syndrome due to mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis with crescent. Although a few cases of focal and segmental mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis associated with Takayasu's arteritis have been reported, nephrotic syndrome has not been reported previously in this situation.

Topics: Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Anticoagulants; Carotid Artery Diseases; Female; Glomerulonephritis, Membranoproliferative; Heparin; Humans; Middle Aged; Nephrotic Syndrome; Prednisolone; Proteinuria; Takayasu Arteritis; Warfarin

Takayasu's arteritis is a large vessel vasculitis involving the aorta and it's major branches. Clinical diagnosis in the early stage is important as the disease may then be treatable. We present the first two cases ever reported in the Irish literature.

Topics: Adrenal Cortex Hormones; Adult; Aortic Arch Syndromes; Female; Heparin; Humans; Ireland; Takayasu Arteritis; Warfarin