Takayasu arteritis in an HIV infected woman

Takayasu arteritis (TA) is a rare chronic vasculitis with particular predilection for the aorta and its major branches. The precipitant factor of the pathological immune response is generally unknown and different factors have been implicated, including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. We report the case of a 46 year old woman who complained of a right hemicranial headache for a week and progressive loss of strength in the left side of the body. She was infected by HIV since 1996. After admission she progressed to hyporesponsive and hemiplegia. The absence of brachial pulse, a difference higher than 10 mmHg in the systolic blood pressure between both arms and radiological data were the criteria for the diagnosis of TA and secundary ischemic stroke.