A Teenager with Hypertension: A Common Problem Leading to an Uncommon Diagnosis

Introduction: Takayasu Arteritis (TA) is a rare diagnosis mainly affecting women aged 15-30 years of Asian or Indian descent, with an incidence of 1.2-2.6 per million annually. This case describes the diagnosis of TA in a young Caucasian female with no known Asian/Indian ancestry and no significant family history who presented with new-onset hypertension. Case Description: A 16-year-old previously healthy female presented to the pediatric emergency department due to “abnormal lab values”. The patient was initially seen 2 weeks prior after becoming lightheaded while participating in an active shooter drill at school, at which time her blood pressure (BP) was found to be elevated to 180/100 mmHg. Associated symptoms included palpitations, dyspnea on exertion, weight loss, bilateral shoulder pain, night …