[Simultaneous occurrence of diffuse Takayasu's arteritis and severe disseminated tuberculosis]

Links between Takayasu's arteritis (TA) and tuberculosis are discussed in the literature. We report the case of a Caucasian woman who was first seen for a regressive fever, associated with a normal clinical and chest and abdominal CT-scan examination. A minor granulomatous hepatitis was documented. She had no symptoms for the following four years. A second episode of persisting fever led to the diagnosis of simultaneous occurrence of diffuse TA and severe disseminated tuberculosis. Both affections were treated and the patient was still in good health after three years of follow-up. Simultaneous occurrence of both diseases in our observation supports evidence for a relationship between those two granulomatous diseases.