title: Extra-cranial giant cell arteritis and Takayasu arteritis: How similar are they?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare clinical and imaging characteristics of patients with giant cell arteritis (GCA) and upper extremity (UE) arterial involvement to patients with Takayasu arteritis (TAK).
  
  
  METHODS
  A cohort of patients seen at the Mayo Clinic with TAK diagnosed between 1984 and 2009 and a cohort of patients with GCA and UE arterial involvement diagnosed between 1999 and 2008 were studied.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The TAK cohort consisted of 125 patients (91% female); the mean age (±SD) at diagnosis was 30.9 (±10) years. The cohort of patients with GCA and UE involvement comprised of 120 patients (80% female); the mean age (±SD) at diagnosis was 67.8 (±7.5) years. The mean time from onset of symptoms to diagnosis was significantly longer in TAK (3.2 years) than GCA (0.5 years), p < 0.001. UE claudication was reported in 40% with TAK and 53% with GCA, p = 0.04. UE blood pressure discrepancy was present in 65% with TAK versus 28% with GCA, p < 0.001. Involvement of the thoracic aorta, abdominal aorta, carotid arteries, innominate artery, mesenteric artery, and left renal artery was more frequently observed in TAK (p < 0.05). Among patients with luminal changes of the thoracic aorta, stenotic/occlusive lesions were predominant in TAK (81% compared to 0% in GCA), whereas aneurysmal disease was more common in GCA (100% compared with 19% in TAK, p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with GCA and UE involvement differ from patients with TAK in clinical and imaging characteristics. Aortic aneurysms were more common in GCA, while stenotic changes of the aorta were more common in TAK, suggesting different pathophysiologic mechanisms or vascular response to injury.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, 2020 Santa Monica Boulevard, Suite 540, Los Angeles, CA 90404. Electronic address: TKermani@mednet.ucla.edu.
authors.forename: Tanaz A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Kermani
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN; Department of Health Sciences Research, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN.
authors.forename: Cynthia S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Crowson
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Arcispedale S. Maria Nuova IRCCS, Reggio Emilia, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Muratore
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Amiens University Hospital, Amiens, France.
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN; Department of Health Sciences Research, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN.
authors.forename: Eric L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Matteson
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN.
authors.forename: Kenneth J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Warrington
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000792:Angiography; D001011:Aorta; D001794:Blood Pressure; D016122:Brachiocephalic Trunk / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D013700:Giant Cell Arteritis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007383:Intermittent Claudication / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008638:Mesenteric Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D011928:Raynaud Disease; D012077:Renal Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013625:Takayasu Arteritis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000098:blood supply*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Clinical characteristics; Giant cell arteritis; Imaging; Takayasu arteritis