Systemic necrotizing vasculitides in Turkey: a comparative analysis of 40 consecutive patients.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to analyze and compare the demographic and clinical features and prognosis of patients with different systemic necrotizing vasculitides (SNV) in Turkey.


METHODS
Twenty-three patients with Wegener's granulomatosis (WG), 15 with polyarteritis nodosa (PAN), and two with Churg-Strauss syndrome were included in the study. The clinical and laboratory features of patients with WG and PAN were compared, and survival analysis was performed for the WG patients.


RESULTS
Twenty-one patients with WG had systemic disease involving kidneys, and two had localized disease. Fifteen patients were placed in the PAN group, 12 of whom were classified as having classic PAN and three with microscopic polyangiitis. Median follow-up time was 37 months (range 1-81) for WG patients and 41 months (range 5-132) for the PAN group. Upper respiratory tract, pulmonary, and renal involvement were significantly more frequent in the WG group than in PAN. Peripheral nervous system involvement was more frequent in the PAN group. In WG, survival was calculated as 59% at 35 months. High initial vasculitis damage index scores were found to be predictive for mortality.


CONCLUSIONS
This study revealed that the most frequent type of SNV was WG in a tertiary rheumatology setting in Turkey. There was initial organ damage in most of the patients, frequently caused by severe renal involvement. In contrast to other published series, overt cardiovascular and gastrointestinal involvement were not observed in our patients with SNV.
Kamali
Sevil
S
Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Istanbul University Medical Faculty, Millet cad., 34390, Capa, Istanbul. sevilkamali@hotmail.com
Inanc
Murat
M
Gul
Ahmet
A
Ocal
Lale
L
Polat
Nuray Gurel
NG
Kilicaslan
Isin
I
Aral
Orhan
O
Konice
Meral
M
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015267:Churg-Strauss Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D014890:Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D010488:Polyarteritis Nodosa / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011379:Prognosis; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D015996:Survival Rate; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D011239:Prednisolone