Blood Pressure Measurements in Patients With Takayasu Arteritis: A Work of Caution

Takayasu arteritis is a large vessel vasculitis among young women that affects the aorta and its branches. Disease-related subclavian or brachial obstructions can lead to hypotensive brachial blood pressure values. By contrast, arterial hypertension is also frequent in this disease, possibly unrecognized in case of solitary brachial blood pressure measurement. We present the case of a 28-year-old woman with cerebral hypoperfusion related to Takayasu arteritis. Despite "pseudo-hypotensive" brachial blood pressure values of 70 mm Hg, Doppler measurement of the ankle revealed a systolic pressure of 220 mm Hg. In Takayasu vasculitis, additional ankle pressure measurement may represent the true cardiac load and blood pressure. (Ann Thorac Surg 2012;93:1299-301) (C) 2012 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons