Burned out Takayasu arteritis in a young Caucasian female: A rare case of aortic regurgitation and aneurysm requiring surgical repair

Abstract

Takayasu arteritis (TAK), also known as pulseless disease, is a granulomatous vasculitis that affects the aorta and its primary branches. It predominantly affects Asian women aged 10 to 40 years and leads to occlusion, stenosis, and aneurysmal changes in large vessels. Aneurysmal changes are observed in the burned-out stage of TAK and are typically found in older patients. Here, we present a rare case of burned-out Takayasu arteritis in a 27-year-old Caucasian female presenting with isolated moderate-to-severe aortic regurgitation and aortic aneurysm requiring surgical repair. TAK initially presents with nonspecific symptoms; thus, diagnosis can be missed or delayed until late in the disease course. We highlight the need for high clinical suspicion, as delay in diagnosis and appropriate treatment can lead to significant morbidity and mortality.