Inferior myocardial infarction is often accompanied by infarction of the right ventricle (RV). Uncommon RV infarction cases with patent foramen ovale (PFO) shunt, leading to severe persistent hypoxemia even without any pulmonary embolism involvement and often requiring invasive intervention, have been documented previously. We report a patient with RV infarction and right-to-left shunt via PFO who improved with only early revascularization and optimal standard treatment. This condition may not necessitate any invasive intervention if it is treated and monitored per standard procedures. Clinicians should consider the possibility of a right-to-left shunt in patients with RV infarction and persistent hypoxemia to implement appropriate therapeutic interventions.
Background
Takayasu arteritis (TA) is included in large vessel vasculitis with unknown aetiopathogenesis. TA is one of the rare diseases with a predilection for young women. The diagnosis of TA is difficult due to variation in clinical presentations and non-specific initial symptoms. This case demonstrates rare TA in a young male with congestive heart failure as the predominant manifestation.
Case presentation
We report a 26-year-old male presented with severe dyspnea, palpitation, orthopnea, paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea, and claudication in the left arm. Four limbs blood pressure discrepancy was present. Chest X-ray showed cardiomegaly with calcification aortic arch and pulmonary edema. Echocardiography revealed that left ventricular ejection fraction decreased with severe aortic and mitral valve regurgitation. Computed tomography angiography showed stenosis of the left common carotid artery and total occlusion of the left subclavian artery with collateral artery. There was vascular thickness and calcification from the peri-aortic valve, ascending aorta, aortic arch, and thoracic descending aorta until abdominal aorta with high-grade stenosis on the inferior side of the renal artery branching accompanied by a post-stenotic dilatation.
Conclusions
This patient’s heart failure was precipitated by secondary hypertension and aortic regurgitation caused by vasculitis of TA. In general, there is no difference in the management of congestive heart failure in patients with TA. Optimized pharmacology therapy with combination steroid and methotrexate successfully inducing remission of TA after 3-months follow-up.
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