Takayasu's arteritis (TA) is a large-vessel vasculitis that involves the aorta and
its major branches. Renal arteries are frequently involved, usually with renovascular
hypertension. The prevalence of TA in Arabs is low. A study of the epidemiological
and clinical features of TA in Arabs included 197 identified patients between 1995
and 2012 and none of them was Libyan. We report a 61-year-old Libyan woman in whom
TA manifested with hypokalemia and arterial hypertension. Previous ultrasound showed
renal size asymmetry raised the possibility of renal artery stenosis. The diagnosis
of TA was confirmed by magnetic resonance angiography, which showed a thickened abdominal
aortic wall, occlusions of the left renal artery and left common iliac artery, stenosis
of the right common iliac artery, and stenosis of both subclavian arteries. TA is
rarely encountered in Arabs. However, the disease must be considered in patients who
present with renovascular hypertension, in a context of other autoimmune disorders.
Key-words:
Hypokalemia - hypothyroidism - insidious - Libya - renal artery stenosis - Takayasu's
arteritis
