Prolonged survival in a child with renovascular hypertension from abdominal-pulmonary Takayasu's arteritis.

Takayasu's disease is an inflammatory condition of the large arteries which comprises circulation to the head, extremities, and, less often, the abdominal viscera or lungs. A 10-year-old girl with renovascular hypertension secondary to Takayasu's arteritis has been followed for over 5 years. Her course is unusual in that (1) her disease is not related to tuberculosis; and (2) despite a persistently active disease course, she has been allowed to experience a fairly normal life-style through continued, extensive medical and surgical management. Vascular involvement has been documented by digital subtraction angiography; less invasive techniques were not useful for monitoring disease progression.