title: The Incidence of Primary Systemic Vasculitis in Jerusalem: A 20-year Hospital-based Retrospective Study.
abstract: The incidence of primary systemic vasculitides varies among different geographic regions and ethnic origins. The aim of this study was to examine the incidence rates of vasculitides in the Jerusalem Jewish population, and to examine possible trends in incidence rates over a 20-year period.
  
  
  
  The clinical databases of inpatients at the 2 medical centers in Jerusalem were searched for patients with vasculitis diagnosed between 1990-2009. Individual records were then reviewed by one of the authors. The significance of trends in incidence rates throughout the study period was evaluated by Pearson correlation coefficient.
  
  
  
  The average annual incidence rate of polyarteritis nodosa was 3.6/million adults (95% CI 1.6-4.7). Incidence rates did not change significantly during this period (r = 0.39, p = 0.088). The incidence of granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) was 4.1 (2.2-5.9) for the whole period, during which it increased significantly (r = 0.53, p < 0.05). The incidence of microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) was lower: 2.3 (1.2-3.5)/million. It also increased significantly (r = 0.55, p < 0.05). The incidence of eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis was 1.2 (0.4-1.9), which remained stable throughout the study period. The incidence of Takayasu arteritis was 2.1/million (95% CI 1.2-2.9), and it also remained stable. Giant cell arteritis (GCA) incidence was 8.1 (5.7-10.6)/100,000 population aged 50 years or older. In sharp contrast with other vasculitides, its incidence decreased significantly throughout the study period (r = -0.61, p < 0.01).
  
  
  
  The incidence rates of vasculitides in the Jewish population of Jerusalem are in the lower range of global incidence rates. While GPA and MPA incidence are increasing, GCA incidence is decreasing.
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Internal Medicine, Rheumatology Unit and Infectious Disease Unit, Shaare-Zedek Medical Center; Hebrew University Medical School; the Rheumatology Unit, Hadassah Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel.G. Nesher, MD, Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Internal Medicine and the Rheumatology Unit, Shaare-Zedek Medical Center, and the Hebrew University Medical School; E. Ben-Chetrit, MD, Department of Internal Medicine and the Infectious Disease Unit, Shaare-Zedek Medical Center, and Lecturer, Hebrew University Medical School; B. Mazal, MD, the Rheumatology Unit, Hadassah Medical Center; G.S. Breuer, MD, Clinical Senior Lecturer, Department of Internal Medicine and the Rheumatology Unit, Shaare-Zedek Medical Center, and Hebrew University Medical School.
authors.forename: Gideon
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nesher
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Internal Medicine, Rheumatology Unit and Infectious Disease Unit, Shaare-Zedek Medical Center; Hebrew University Medical School; the Rheumatology Unit, Hadassah Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel.G. Nesher, MD, Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Internal Medicine and the Rheumatology Unit, Shaare-Zedek Medical Center, and the Hebrew University Medical School; E. Ben-Chetrit, MD, Department of Internal Medicine and the Infectious Disease Unit, Shaare-Zedek Medical Center, and Lecturer, Hebrew University Medical School; B. Mazal, MD, the Rheumatology Unit, Hadassah Medical Center; G.S. Breuer, MD, Clinical Senior Lecturer, Department of Internal Medicine and the Rheumatology Unit, Shaare-Zedek Medical Center, and Hebrew University Medical School.
authors.forename: Eli
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ben-Chetrit
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Internal Medicine, Rheumatology Unit and Infectious Disease Unit, Shaare-Zedek Medical Center; Hebrew University Medical School; the Rheumatology Unit, Hadassah Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel.G. Nesher, MD, Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Internal Medicine and the Rheumatology Unit, Shaare-Zedek Medical Center, and the Hebrew University Medical School; E. Ben-Chetrit, MD, Department of Internal Medicine and the Infectious Disease Unit, Shaare-Zedek Medical Center, and Lecturer, Hebrew University Medical School; B. Mazal, MD, the Rheumatology Unit, Hadassah Medical Center; G.S. Breuer, MD, Clinical Senior Lecturer, Department of Internal Medicine and the Rheumatology Unit, Shaare-Zedek Medical Center, and Hebrew University Medical School.
authors.forename: Bracha
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mazal
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Internal Medicine, Rheumatology Unit and Infectious Disease Unit, Shaare-Zedek Medical Center; Hebrew University Medical School; the Rheumatology Unit, Hadassah Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel.G. Nesher, MD, Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Internal Medicine and the Rheumatology Unit, Shaare-Zedek Medical Center, and the Hebrew University Medical School; E. Ben-Chetrit, MD, Department of Internal Medicine and the Infectious Disease Unit, Shaare-Zedek Medical Center, and Lecturer, Hebrew University Medical School; B. Mazal, MD, the Rheumatology Unit, Hadassah Medical Center; G.S. Breuer, MD, Clinical Senior Lecturer, Department of Internal Medicine and the Rheumatology Unit, Shaare-Zedek Medical Center, and Hebrew University Medical School. gbreuer@szmc.org.il.
authors.forename: Gabriel S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Breuer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016208:Databases, Factual; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D056647:Systemic Vasculitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: GIANT CELL ARTERITIS; GRANULOMATOSIS WITH POLYANGIITIS; INCIDENCE; ISRAEL; MICROSCOPIC POLYANGIITIS; VASCULITIS