[Rupture of ascending aortic aneurysm revealing Takayasu's arteritis]

Takayasu's disease is rare in Western countries. It is most often revealed by stenosing lesions, aneurysmal attacks being less frequent, generally multifocal, and associated with stenoses. An isolated aneurysmal attack of the ascending aorta is exceptional. It is a deleterious factor in the disease process, and one of the causes of death in this disease. We report a case of isolated aneurysm of the ascending aorta extending to the aortic arch, undergoing emergency surgery at the rupture phase, revealing Takayasu's arteritis. Classically, isolated, asymptomatic, small aneurysms without lesions of other branches are slow to evolve with prolonged corticosteroid therapy. Our observation was contrary to these data, with rapid growth in a major inflammatory context, and rupture. It would seem important to rapidly diagnose and treat Takayasu's disease aneurysms of the ascending aorta, given their progressive potential. In a young female the signs of parietal thickening of the aneurysm must provoke diagnosis and treatment rapidly.