ISOLATED PULMONARY-ARTERIES INVOLVEMENT IN A PATIENT WITH TAKAYASUS-ARTERITIS

Pulmonary arteries involvement is well described in Takayasu's arterit is (TA), a condition which is mainly associated with involvement of th e systemic arteries. We report a case of TA with documented isolated p ulmonary arteries involvement. Symptoms were quite similar to those en countered in chronic thromboembolic disease. A pulmonary angiogram sho wed bilateral stenosis and occlusion of pulmonary arteries. Diagnosis of TA was suspected, and as such a complete aortogram was made but pro ved to be normal. Massive haemoptysis suddenly occurred, which resulte d in death. Autopsy disclosed characteristic pathological lesions of T A in pulmonary arteries and confirmed the lack of involvement of the a orta and its branches. The frequency of such a clinical form could be underestimated, given the difficulties of diagnosis and features simil ar to those of chronic thromboembolic disease.