title: [Clinical manifestations of Takayasu's arteritis seen at the University Medical Center in Gdańsk].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Takayasu's arteritis (TA) is a granulomatous inflammation of the aorta and its major branches, usually occurring in young women. The disease is rare in Europe. The aim of this study was to describe clinical manifestations of TA among patients at the Department of Connective Tissue Diseases, University Medical Center in Gdańsk.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a retrospective data analysis and performed a clinical examination of the patients. All patients met ACR criteria for TA. The mean age at disease onset was 26 years and the mean diagnostic delay was 19 months. Four out of 12 patients had a history of extensive stroke. Bypass surgery or balloon angioplasty was done in four patients. One patient underwent aortic valve replacement.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Early diagnosis and pharmacologic treatment may significantly improve the prognosis in TA.
authors.affiliation: Katedra i Klinika Chorób Wewnetrznych, Chorób Tkanki Łacznej i Geriatrii Gdańskiego Uniwersytetu Medycznego ul. Debinki 7, 80-952 Gdańsk.
authors.forename: Zenobia
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Czuszyńska
authors.forename: Zbigniew
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zdrojewski
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D000800:Angioplasty, Balloon; D015897:Comorbidity; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007383:Intermittent Claudication / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D020521:Stroke / Q000453:epidemiology; D013625:Takayasu Arteritis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures; D055815:Young Adult