Transcatheter thrombolysis in children with Takayasu's arteritis complicated by acute cerebral infarction: a case report.

BACKGROUND

Takayasu arteritis (TA), a rare systemic macrovasculitis in children, affects multiple arteries, causing necrosis, remodeling, stenosis, or dilatation. Due to nonspecific symptoms, early diagnosis is challenging, and it is often missed until organ dysfunction occurs. TA poses a significant health threat, with few reports on acute cerebral infarction in pediatric cases.

CASE PRESENTATION

An 11-year-old girl presented with TA-induced thrombosis in the right middle cerebral artery's upper trunk. Despite prompt thrombolysis restoring blood flow, brain tissue necrosis and dysfunction persisted. Pre-intervention MRA showed occlusion and stenosis in relevant arteries. Subsequent angiography confirmed multiple-artery acute stroke, supported by imaging, serology, and cerebrospinal fluid tests. Timely rehabilitation, hormone treatment, and early diagnosis led to a favorable outcome.

CONCLUSIONS

Early diagnosis and treatment of pediatric TA are crucial to prevent organ damage. Transcatheter thrombolysis effectively restores brain perfusion in acute infarction cases.