title: Favourable pregnancy outcome in Takayasu arteritis: a single-centre experience.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Takayasu arteritis is a chronic large-vessel vasculitis in young women of reproductive age. We aimed to obtain information on pregnancy in TA retrospectively.
  
  
  METHODS
  Takayasu arteritis patients with history of pregnancy were included in this study. The evaluations included physical findings, serum C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate as well as history and symptoms. Information about pregnancies, abortus, deliveries and newborns was obtained from medical records. Disease activity score, disease damage index appraised Kerr's criteria and vasculitis damage index (VDI) and medication were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-six Takayasu arteritis patients who had a total of 84 pregnancies were evaluated. The mean age of patients ranged 24.5 ± 6.6 years. Subclavian arteries (86%) were the most frequently involved vessels. We were able to complete the follow-up of ten patients who had a pregnancy after diagnosis during the period of pregnancy. Two patients who had renal artery involvement and active disease in third trimester suffered from preeclampsia and a worsening of hypertension. In one of them, disease flared up in the third trimester. There was no active disease in the postpartum sixth month. Maternal heart failure, cerebrovascular accident, death or cerebral hypoperfusion at the time of delivery, asphyxia and newborn anomalies were not seen in any of these patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TA pregnancies may have a favourable outcome with regular follow-up schedule and close monitorisation of blood pressure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Istanbul University, Istanbul Medical Faculty, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Alpay-Kanitez
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Istanbul University, Istanbul Medical Faculty, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Omma
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Istanbul University, Istanbul Medical Faculty, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Erer
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Istanbul University, Istanbul Medical Faculty, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Artim-Esen
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Istanbul University, Istanbul Medical Faculty, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gül
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Istanbul University, Istanbul Medical Faculty, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Inanç
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Istanbul University, Istanbul Medical Faculty, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Öcal
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Istanbul University, Istanbul Medical Faculty, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kamali
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002585:Cesarean Section; D015331:Cohort Studies; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000209:etiology; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011249:Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D012077:Renal Artery; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013348:Subclavian Artery; D013625:Takayasu Arteritis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D011239:Prednisolone