Clinicial features of Takayasu arteritis: a cohort study / 中华风湿病学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To analyze the characteristics of patients with Takayasu arteritis (TA) in the east China Takayasu arteritis (ECTA) cohort and their subgroups, and evaluate the disease characteristics.Methods:Patients diagnosed with TA in ECTA cohort from January 2009 to October 2019 were enrolled and their data were analyzed. The characteristics were analyzed and compared within subgroups using t-test or Wilcoxon rank sum test or Chi-square test. Results:A total of 454 patients were included, with the male to female ratio of 1∶4.75(79/375), and the main complaint were dizziness/headache, fatigue, and chest tightness/pain. The type Ⅴ and Ⅰ were the most common angiographic pattern, among which the subclavian artery and carotid artery were most vulnerable, manifested as vascular stenosis. Hypertension, tuberculosis and hepatitis B were common complications. In subgroup comparison, symptoms and inflammation index were much more evident in the active group, female group, <40 years old, and newly diagnosed group. C-reactive protein (CRP)[10(2, 33) mg/L vs 3(1, 14) mg/L, Z=-4.49, P<0.01), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) [(45±33) mm/1 h vs (25±23) mm/1 h, t=-5.82, P<0.01), in the active group were significantly higher than those in the inactive group, while the ESR in female patients was only higher than that in males, but without statistical significant difference. SAA in the young age group, ESR in the newly diagnosed group was significantly higher than that in the other subgroups [19(6, 95) mg/L vs 10(4, 39) mg/L, Z=2.06, P<0.05] [(44±34) mm/1 h vs (32±28) mm/1 h, t=3.77, P<0.01]. Conclusion:The TA patients are mainly young women, and are in active disease when first being diagnosed. The type Ⅴ and Ⅰ are the most common artery involve-ment pattern. Hypertension and tuberculosis are the most frequent complications.