Takayasu arteritis in children.
OBJECTIVE
To retrospectively evaluate the clinical features, angiographic findings, and outcomes of children with Takayasu arteritis (TA) in Turkey.


METHODS
Clinical, laboratory, and angiographic findings and outcomes of 19 children with TA were evaluated with a retrospective chart review. The criteria for inclusion were those proposed by the American College of Rheumatology.


RESULTS
Mean followup period was 35.89 +/- 40.75 months (range 1-168, median 30). There were 14 girls and 5 boys. The mean age at diagnosis was 12.84 +/- 2.69 years (range 8-17, median 13). The most common complaints on admission were headache (84%), abdominal pain (37%), claudication of extremities (32%), fever (26%), and weight loss (10%). One patient presented with visual loss. Examination on admission revealed hypertension (89%), absent pulses (58%), and bruits (42%). Angiography revealed type I in 13 patients (aortic arch, descending thoracic, and abdominal aorta), type II in 4 (descending thoracic aorta and abdominal aorta), and type IV in 2 (diffuse aortic and pulmonary artery). The most commonly involved vessels were the renal, subclavian, and carotid arteries. All patients received corticosteroid therapy, and further immunosuppressive therapy was added in 15 patients. Fourteen of the 17 hypertensive patients had renal artery stenosis and 9 underwent surgery or interventional therapy. Thoraco-abdominal bypass graft was performed in 2 patients who had abdominal aortic stenosis.


CONCLUSIONS
Hypertension is the most common clinical feature at presentation. Corticosteroid and immunosuppressive therapy was effective in the control of disease activity. Angioplasty or bypass grafting was successfully performed when needed.
Cakar
Nilgun
N
From the Department of Nephrology, Ministry of Health Diskapi Children's Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. nilguncakar@hotmail.com
Yalcinkaya
Fatos
F
Duzova
Ali
A
Caliskan
Salim
S
Sirin
Aydan
A
Oner
Ayse
A
Baskin
Esra
E
Bek
Kenan
K
Soylu
Alper
A
Fitoz
Suat
S
Bayazit
Aysun Karabay
AK
Bircan
Zelal
Z
Ozen
Seza
S
Uncu
Nermin
N
Ekim
Mesiha
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000792:Angiography; D017130:Angioplasty; D001011:Aorta / Q000503:physiopathology; D001027:Aortography; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D012077:Renal Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013625:Takayasu Arteritis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones