Cardiac involvement in nonspecific aortoarteritis (Takayasu's arteritis)

Fifty-four patients (18 males and 36 females, ages 2 to 37 years) with nonspecific aortoarteritis (NSAA) were studied. Evaluation revealed hypertension in 35, congestive heart failure (CHF) in 24, mild to moderate mitral regurgitation in six, and mild aortic regurgitation in two. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate was raised (>35 mm in the first hour) in 38 patients. The arterial lesions included type I in seven, type II in eight, and type III in 34. Pulmonary artery involvement was present in 4 (type IV) of the 20 patients in whom it was studied. Selective coronary angiography was done in 11 patients and revealed 90% left main stenosis in one patient. Hemodynamic data revealed raised (>7 mm Hg) mean right atrial pressure in nine, raised mean pulmonary artery pressure (>20 mm Hg) in 29, and raised left ventricular filling pressure (>12 mm Hg) in 27 patients. Radionuclide ventriculography revealed reduced (