Takayasu's arteritis: results of a university hospital of 45 patients in Turkey.
BACKGROUND
Takayasu's arteritis (TA) is a rare disease which appears to be most common in East Asia. However, the disease has been reported to be worldwide. The clinical features of the disease can show variations in different geographical areas. The aim of this study is to evaluate clinical, laboratory and radiological features and the outcome of patients with TA in our hospital.


METHODS
The hospital files of patients who were followed with the diagnosis of TA between the years 1973 and 2003 in Hacettepe University Hospital were retrospectively evaluated.


RESULTS
Male/female ratio was 5/40, and the mean age was 34 years (18-59). Constitutional symptoms were present in 71% of the patients. Claudication and pallor of the extremity, decreased extremity pulsations, arterial hypertension, and arterial bruits were present in 44%, 56%, 58%, and 27% of the patients, respectively. Aortic valvular insufficiency, abdominal aortic aneurism, and cardiomegaly were present in four, one, and four patients, respectively. The initial complaint of six patients was cerebrovascular events. The distribution of the patients according to the angiographic findings was as follows, 56% Type I, 18% Type II, 22% Type III, and 4% Type IV arteritis. The need for vascular surgical interventions were significantly less common in patients who were treated with immunosuppressives plus alternate dose steroids (6%) compared to patients who were treated only with antiaggregant agents (33%).


CONCLUSIONS
The demographic and angiographic findings of our patients were similar to previous observations from Japan and Italy, and disclose distinct clinical features in comparison to other Asian countries. Alternate-day glucocorticoids plus cytotoxic drugs may be beneficial and safe in patients with TA.
Ureten
Kemal
K
Department of Rheumatology, Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey.
Oztürk
M Akif
MA
Onat
A Mesut
AM
Oztürk
M Halil
MH
Ozbalkan
Zeynep
Z
Güvener
Murat
M
Kiraz
Sedat
S
Ertenli
Ihsan
I
Calgüneri
Meral
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D001027:Aortography / Q000379:methods; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011336:Probability; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013625:Takayasu Arteritis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology