Middle Aortic Syndrome in Takayasu's Arteritis: Report of Two Surgical Cases

An isolated stenotic or occluded segment of the descending thoracic and/or the abdominal aorta associated to Takayasu's arteritis ( TA) is very uncommon and the clinical expression is known as "middle aortic syndrome.'' Manifestations depend on the lesion location, and may include hypertension originating from the aortic coarctation or renovascular, buttock, or lower extremity claudication and rarely chronic intestinal angina. We present 2 female patients with TA with occlusive lesions in the infrarenal aorta; both were treated with open surgical reconstruction of the affected segments. On follow-up, at 81 and 46 months, respectively, both patients remain symptoms free.