[Takayasu arteritis in southern Tunisia: a study of 29 patients].
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to assess the clinical, laboratory, and radiological features and course of Takayasu arteritis in Tunisia.


METHODS
This retrospective study analyzed 29 patients with Takayasu arteritis between 1996 and 2006 who met the criteria for inclusion proposed by the American College of Rheumatology (ACR).


RESULTS
The file review identified 25 women and 4 men, with a mean age at diagnosis of 35.4 years (range: 18-65 years). Our series included 93% with involvement of the aortic arch and its branches, while only 24% involved renal arteries and 21% the abdominal aorta. We had no case with cardiac or pulmonary involvement. In all, 67.7% had type I disease, 10.7% type IIb, 3.6% type IV and 25% type V. Hypertension was recorded in 38%. No tuberculosis was observed. In all, 22 patients (75.8%) had glucocorticoid treatment, and 5 (17.2%) needed immunosuppressive therapy. Two patients with renal artery stenosis had endoluminal angioplasty and four patients (13.7%) required surgical intervention. Our patients were followed for a mean period of 80 months. Disease remained stable in 18 patients (64.2%).


CONCLUSIONS
The clinical manifestations, angiographic data and course of our patients were similar to those in other reported series. We found no relation between Takayasu arteritis and tuberculosis.
Kechaou
Manel
M
Service de medicine interne, CHU Hédi Chaker, Sfax, Tunisie. manelkch@yahoo.fr
Frigui
Makram
M
Ben Hmida
Mohamed
M
Bahloul
Zouhir
Z
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000792:Angiography; D017130:Angioplasty; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013625:Takayasu Arteritis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014416:Tunisia; D055815:Young Adult
D005938:Glucocorticoids; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents