title: Outcome assessment in Takayasu arteritis.
abstract: Takayasu arteritis (TAK) is a systemic granulomatous large-vessel vasculitis with a phenotype that overlaps with GCA and defined by the 1993 and 2012 Chapel Hill Consensus Conference statements. However, the diagnosis of TAK is often delayed since TAK patients may be asymptomatic or have non-specific symptoms. Once a diagnosis is made, it is difficult to judge remission or recurrence since there are no reliable assessment tools. With the availability of newer agents, such as cytokine blockade, which are being evaluated in GCA, there is the potential for real advances in TAK patient management. Without reliable assessment tools it will be difficult to introduce newer agents in an organized way or to optimally benefit patients in the future. In this article we review the use and performance of disease indicators in TAK clinical trials as a basis for the further development of assessment tools for this disease.
authors.affiliation: Lupus and Vasculitis Clinic, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge University Hospitals, Cambridge, UK dnakagomi@hotmail.co.jp.
authors.forename: Daiki
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nakagomi
authors.affiliation: Lupus and Vasculitis Clinic, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge University Hospitals, Cambridge, UK.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jayne
mesh_terms: D016207:Cytokines / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D013700:Giant Cell Arteritis / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000379:methods*; D010641:Phenotype; D063189:Symptom Assessment; D013625:Takayasu Arteritis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines
keywords: Takayasu arteritis; disease assessment; large vessel vasculitis; outcome measure