Hypertensive crisis in young woman with Takayasu arteritis.

A young woman who was experiencing repeated convulsions was admitted. The patient's brain magnetic resonance image revealed reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy. Blood pressure fluctuated at times to more than 200 mmHg, and the measurement of the right and left upper arms differed by approximately 70 mmHg. Enhanced computed tomography revealed stenotic lesions of some arteries including the left renal artery. Such findings led to an initial diagnosis of Takayasu arteritis and hypertensive encephalopathy caused by renovascular hypertension. A percutaneous transluminal renal angioplasty was successfully performed. The patient's blood pressure returned to normal value without the use of antihypertensive drugs.