Comparison of Clinical, Angiographic Features and Outcome in Takayasu's Arteritis and Behçet's Disease With Arterial Involvement

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Takayasu's arteritis (TAK) is a vasculitis that primarily involves the aorta and its branches. In Behçet's disease (BD), systemic vasculitis is one of major manifestations. We aimed to compare clinical and angiographic features and outcome between TAK and BD with arterial involvement.METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed medical records of 206 TAK patients and 50 BD patients between 1995 and 2015. Angiographic lesions were evaluated via computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and/or conventional angiography.RESULTS: Fever (30% vs. 9.2%, p<0.001) and arthralgia (36% vs. 7.3%, p<0.001) were more common in BD. C-reactive protein was higher in BD compared with TAK (5.85 mg/dL vs. 2.08 mg/dL, p<0.001). Stenosis (89.8% vs. 60%, p<0.001) and occlusion (65.5% vs. 32%, p<0.001) were more observed in TAK. In contrast, aneurysm was common in BD (62% vs. 20.9%, p<0.001). The carotid artery (73.3% vs. 30%, p<0.001), subclavian artery (71.4% vs. 16%, p<0.001), descending aorta (35% vs. 12%, p=0.002), renal artery (23.8% vs. 10%, p=0.032), superior mesenteric artery (18.4% vs. 4%, p=0.012), and brachiocephalic trunk (13.6% vs. 2%, p=0.020) were more commonly involved in TAK, whereas the femoral artery (10% vs. 2.4%, p=0.027) was more frequently involved in BD. During follow-up, arterial dissection (10% vs. 1.9%, p=0.016), rupture (12% vs. 0.5%, p<0.001), and arterial replacement/resection (66% vs. 9.7%, p<0.001) were more observed in BD.CONCLUSION: TAK differs from BD regarding clinical features and vascular involvement patterns. BD exhibits a higher rate of vascular complications.