TAKAYASUS-ARTERITIS ASSOCIATED WITH ANTIPHOSPHOLIPID ANTIBODIES - REPORT OF 2 CASES

The authors describe 2 patients with Takayasu's arteritis in whom lupu s anticoagulant was positive and the titer of anticardiolipin antibody was elevated, One patient developed diffusely stenotic and occlusive changes in the multiple larger arteries, Histology of the small-sized arteries in another patient showed occlusive vasculitis without thromb osis, in addition to the findings in large-sized arteries compatible w ith Takayasu's disease. These findings are uncommon in Takayasu's arte ritis, These findings suggest that antiphospholipid antibodies may hav e contributed to the pathogenesis of the extensive vasculopathy and ma y have triggered vasculitis in these patients.