Can Takayasu Arteritis Cause Hydronephrosis?

Intern Med. 2023;62(11):1625-1629. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.0305-22. Epub 2023 Jun 1.

Abstract

A 74-year-old woman was admitted because of malaise and a low-grade fever. Her C-reactive protein level was 0.96 mg/dL. Computed tomography (CT) revealed diffuse uniform thickening of the arterial wall from the abdominal aorta to the common iliac artery and right hydronephrosis. 18F-fluordesoxyglucose positron emission tomography-CT showed an accumulation in the same area. These findings suggested Takayasu arteritis and retroperitoneal fibrosis as differential diagnoses. Takayasu arteritis is characterized by thickening of the arterial walls, and retroperitoneal fibrosis is characterized by membranous lesions covering the outer surface of the arterial walls. Thus, Takayasu arteritis was deemed the most likely diagnosis. Steroid treatment was effective.

Keywords: 18F-fluordesoxyglucose positron emission tomography; Takayasu arteritis; hydronephrosis; retroperitoneal fibrosis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aorta, Abdominal / diagnostic imaging
  • Arteries
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Retroperitoneal Fibrosis*
  • Takayasu Arteritis* / diagnosis
  • Takayasu Arteritis* / diagnostic imaging
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed