Aortic valve regurgitation as the presenting sign of Takayasu arteritis

Takayasu arteritis is a rare chronic vasculitis primarily involving the aor ta and its main branches. We report an adolescent girl with Takayasu arteri tis who presented with an isolated aortic valve regurgitation as part of a systemic inflammatory process. This patient was initially misdiagnosed as h aving rheumatic heart disease and the correct diagnosis was made only 1 yea r later. Conclusion Takayasu arteritis should be considered among the diagnostic pos sibilities in patients who present with an unexplained systemic inflammator y syndrome and a cardiac murmur.