Takayasu's arteritis presenting as fever of unknown origin:Report of two cases and literature review

Abstract

Objectives: This study reports two patients with Takayasu's arteritis presenting with a fever of unknown origin (FUO) and reviews the literature on that association. Methods: We describe the clinical presentation, course, and outcome of the two patients, and reviewed the medical literature from 1968 till 1997 using MEDLINE and the key words fever, diagnosis, and Takayasu's arteritis. Results: Takayasu's arteritis is rarely reported as a cause of FUO. Noninvasivediagnostic techniques such as magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography scanning, gallium-67 scintigraphy, and ultrasonography may help in the diagnosis of Takayasu's arteritis in the prepulseless stage. Conclusion: Takayasu's arteritis should be considered in the differential diagnosisof FUO, especially in young women.