Neuroimaging of Children With Takayasu Arteritis

J Child Neurol. 2021 Jul;36(8):642-647. doi: 10.1177/0883073821991287. Epub 2021 Feb 16.

Abstract

Objective: Takayasu arteritis is a rare granulomatous chronic vasculitis that affects the aorta and its main branches. Neurologic manifestations can accompany the disease; however, there is no study on neuroimaging in children with Takayasu arteritis. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in pediatric Takayasu arteritis patients.

Materials and methods: Demographic, clinical, and laboratory data were obtained retrospectively.

Results: The study included 15 pediatric Takayasu arteritis patients. All patients presented with constitutional symptoms. Additionally, 6 patients suffered from headache, 2 had syncope, 1 had loss of consciousness, and 1 had convulsion. All patients underwent cranial and diffusion MRI a median 12 months after diagnosis. Cranial MRI findings were normal in 12 patients, whereas 3 patients had abnormal findings, as follows: stenosis in the M1 and M2 segments of the left middle cerebral artery (n = 1); diffuse thinning of the right internal carotid, middle cerebral, and right vertebral and basilar artery (n = 1); as a sequela, areas of focal gliosis in both the lateral ventricular and posterior periventricular regions (n = 1). Among these 3 patients, 1 had no neurologic complaints.

Conclusion: Abnormal MRI findings can be observed in pediatric Takayasu arteritis patients, even those that are asymptomatic; therefore, clinicians should carefully evaluate neurologic involvement in all pediatric Takayasu arteritis patients.

Keywords: Takayasu arteritis; cranial magnetic resonance imaging; neuroimaging.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Brain / diagnostic imaging
  • Brain Diseases / diagnostic imaging*
  • Brain Diseases / etiology*
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods*
  • Male
  • Neuroimaging / methods*
  • Takayasu Arteritis / complications*
  • Young Adult