Analysis of common etiology between Takayasu’s Arteritis and Hyperthyroidism in a middle aged female in Eastern part of India

Takayasu’s arteritis is a chronic, progressive, granulomatous vasculitis involving large arteries especially aorta and its branches. Hyperthyroidism is a condition which involves excess synthesis and secretion of thyroid hormones by the thyroid gland. A 36 year old female patient presented at the General Medicine Outdoor of a tertiary-care hospital situated in the Eastern part of India with clinical features and laboratory reports suggestive of hyperthyroidism. There was also history of ischemic stroke 8 years back leading to right sided weakness in this patient. On careful physical examination left sided radial, brachial, femoral and dorsalis pedis arterial pulses were found to be impalpable. Digital subtraction angiography of aorta and its branches revealed narrowing of left common carotid and left subclavian artery suggestive of Takayasu’s arteritis. This existence of Takayasu’s arteritis and hyperthyroidism may not be just fortuitous. An underlying autoimmune mechanism might be a possible explanation.