Vasculitis 7% Flashcards
What is the DDx for aortitis?
Takayasu arteritis Lupus Behcet syndrome Spondyloarthritis Crohn disease (IBD) Cogan syndrome IgG4-RD Fibromuscular dysplasia Tuberculosis
What clinical finding is more specific for children with GPA compared to adults with GPA, prompting its inclusion in EULAR/PReS classification criteria?
Laryngotracheal/Subglottic stenosis
What is the pediatric incidence of Takayasu arteritis?
2.6 per million
32% of all TA present at age < 20
What is the median age of onset and age range of onset for Takayasu arteritis?
Median 10.4 years
Range prenatal through teenage
Is Takayasu more common in male or female?
Female 2: male 1
What infectious etiology is linked to Takayasu but the relationship is still unclear?
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Some studies show an increased incidence of LTBI or active TB or positive TB test and some studies don’t. The association of Takayasu with TB is rare in “developed” countries.
Also associated with HIV, post influenza, hepatitis B but rare in children.
What histocompatibility complex is associated with Takayasu?
HLA-Bw52 - may confer worse cardiac outcome
Which serum cytokines are increased in Takayasu arteritis?
IL-6, IL-18
IFN-gamma, TNF which are essential components of granuloma formation
A 10 year old female presents with fever, weight loss, fatigue, and abdominal pain. Her R arm BP is 160/100. Her labs are notable for normocytic anemia, thrombocytosis, ESR 78, CRP 20.
What diagnostic study could confirm the diagnosis?
The patient has Takayasu arteritis.
MRI/MRA can identify the vasculitis and is the preferred imaging modality in children.
What rashes are associated with Takayasu?
Livedo reticularis
Erythema nodosum
Purpura
Urticaria
What are the symptoms of aortic arch disease?
Supradiaphragmatic involvement
Headache, visual disturbance (amaurosis fugax), arterial ischemic stroke, syncope, dizziness, cognitive dysfunction, seizures, carotidynia
Dyspnea, chest pain, palpitations, valvular disease, cardiomyopathy leading to CHF
Rarely, patients may present with myocardial infarction 😱
What is the most common clinical manifestation in pediatric patients presenting with Takayasu arteritis involving the infradiaphragmatic portion of the aorta?
Renovascular hypertension due to renal artery involvement
A 15 year old female presents with fever, weight loss, fatigue, intermittent abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting. Her BP is 135/95. Her ESR and CRP are elevated. She has a mild normocytic anemia. She has a mild transaminitis. What is on the broad differential?
IBD Takayasu arteritis Hepatitis: infectious vs autoimmune Malignancy Lupus ANCA associated vasculitis EBV mononucleosis Parvovirus infection
What symptoms of Takayasu arteritis are more common in adults than children?
Claudication
Arthralgia, arthritis
Hypertension more common in kids
What are common physical exam findings in Takayasu arteritis?
The most important and common findings are decreased/absent peripheral pulses, BP discrepancies between limbs, carotid or abdominal bruits, hypertension.
What are the classification criteria for Takayasu?
Angiographic abnormalities and at least 1 of the following 5:
Decreased peripheral artery pulses and/or claudication of extremities
Blood pressure difference between limbs of more than 10 mmHg
Bruits over aorta and/or it’s major branches
Systolic/diastolic hypertension greater than 95th percentile for height
ESR greater than 20 or CRP greater than normal
What laboratory studies maybe elevated in Takayasu arteritis?
Inflammatory markers, von Willebrand factor Ag, platelets
1/3 of patients at presentation do not have elevate and inflammatory markers, likely representing patients with burned out disease
Anemia may also be present. There are usually no auto antibodies. ANA is detected in 22 to 36% of cases. In the few patients with ANCA positive, MPO and PR3 or negative
What is the first line imaging modality to evaluate for Takayasu arteritis?
MRI/MRA of the neck, chest, abdominal, pelvis, plus/minus head
What is consider the gold standard imaging modality to evaluate Takayasu arteritis?
Conventional angiography with digital subtraction. This is rarely used because it is invasive and exposes a patient to ionizing radiation.
A patient with the diagnosis of Takayasu arteritis has a repeat MRA documenting large vessel wall edema and wall thickening that is stable compared to previous imaging. Can we say that this patient has active disease? Can we say that this patient is not responding to therapy?
No, vessel wall edema and wall thickening are not always reversible, even in patients with clinically inactive disease. It may be difficult to use serial imaging to monitor response to treatment or disease activity. The development of new lesions in Takayasu arteritis is a more important sign of disease activity.
What are some imaging feature seen in Takayasu arteritis?
Large vessel wall edema, muscle wall thickening, vessel stenosis, vasodilation, fusiform and saccular aneurysms, mural thrombosis, dissection
What is the classic histopathology seen In Takayasu arteritis?
Intramural multi nucleated giant cells in large artery walls
What is the most common type of Takayasu arteritis in pediatric patients?
Type IV, where there is abdominal aorta and/or renal artery involvement
Type V, where there is ascending aorta, aortic arch and it’s branches, thoracic descending aorta, abdominal aorta, and/or renal artery involvement
What finding may be seen on ophthalmologic exam in Takayasu arteritis?
Retinal vasculitis
Recall Dr. Takayasu was an ophthalmologist!