March 3, 2026Open Access

Prolonged follow-up of a case of Takayasu’s arteritis presenting with spastic paraplegia secondary to thoracic compressive myelopathy

Key Points

Spastic paraplegia can indicate complications from Takayasu's arteritis, emphasizing its unusual presentation.
Positron emission tomography and magnetic resonance imaging confirm vasculitis and help track treatment effectiveness.
Long-term follow-up reveals significant complications related to both Takayasu's arteritis and its management over time.
Dural thickening may suggest primary spinal conditions, but large-vessel inflammation is critical for accurate diagnosis.

Abstract

Spastic paraplegia is an uncommon and potentially misleading presentation of Takayasu's arteritis. The resulting dural thickening may initially mimic primary spinal pathology.The presence of concurrent large-vessel inflammation is a crucial diagnostic clue; positron emission tomography/computed tomography scans and magnetic resonance imaging are invaluable in confirming vasculitis and monitoring treatment response.Long-term follow-up is essential, as it reveals new and significant complications related both to Takayasu's arteritis and to its management.

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Cite This Study

Spiteri et al. (Tue,) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/69a76060c6e9836116a2d0ca https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.12890/2026_006089

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