Retrospective analysis of 95 patients with large vessel vasculitis: a single center experience.

Although Takayasu arteritis (TAK) and giant cell arteritis (GCA) have been considered as distinct disease entities, similarities of these diseases have been recently reported. However, little data is available regarding this issue in Japanese patients with TAK and GCA. In addition, the classification criteria for TAK established in 1990 by the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) have been criticized due to the age restriction for disease onset (≤ 40 years). Thus, we aimed to compare the clinical characteristics of Japanese patients with TAK and those with GCA and to clarify whether clinical differences existed between patients with early-onset (≤ 40 years) and late-onset (> 40 years) TAK. We enrolled 86 patients with TAK and nine with GCA who visited our department from 1990 to 2014. The diagnoses of TAK and GCA were based on the criteria of the Japanese Circulation Society and the ACR, respectively. Mean ages at onset for TAK and GCA were 36.4 and 71.0 years, respectively. Patients with TAK had significantly higher incidences of aortic regurgitation and carotid and subclavian arterial involvement, lower frequencies of polymyalgia rheumatica, and better prognoses than those with GCA. In contrast, the clinical characteristics, distribution of arterial lesions, treatments administered, and prognoses of patients with early- and late-onset TAK were comparable. These results suggested that TAK and GCA differed substantially, and that the age restriction (≤ 40 years) may not be necessary for the diagnosis of TAK.

Yoshida M ，Watanabe R ，Ishii T ，Machiyama T ，Akita K ，Fujita Y ，Shirota Y ，Sugimura K ，Fujii H ，Shimokawa H ，Harigae H ... -  《-》

Clinical features and radiological findings in large vessel vasculitis: are Takayasu arteritis and giant cell arteritis 2 different diseases or a single entity?

Furuta S ，Cousins C ，Chaudhry A ，Jayne D ... -  《-》

Takayasu arteritis and giant cell arteritis: a spectrum within the same disease?

Maksimowicz-McKinnon K ，Clark TM ，Hoffman GS 《-》

Extra-cranial giant cell arteritis and Takayasu arteritis: How similar are they?

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). 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. 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). 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.

Kermani TA ，Crowson CS ，Muratore F ，Schmidt J ，Matteson EL ，Warrington KJ ... -  《-》

Takayasu arteritis and large-vessel giant cell arteritis in Italian population. Comprehensive analysis from a single institutional cohort of 184 cases.

To compare clinical and imaging characteristics in patients with Takayasu arteritis (TAK) and large vessel-giant cell arteritis (LV-GCA) in an Italian population. We conducted a retrospective monocenter study comparing characteristics and outcomes of a cohort of 59 patients with TAK and a cohort of 127 patients with LV-GCA diagnosed between 1996 and 2016. Most of them (92%) were followed up for at least 24 months at Reggio Emilia Hospital (Italy). We also reviewed the literature discussing the results of the published manuscripts comparing LV-GCA to TAK RESULTS: LV-GCA patients had a higher prevalence of males (p = 0.003), and more frequently presented with cranial symptoms (p = 0.001), fever ≥38 °C (p = 0.007), polymyalgia rheumatica (p = 0.001), and hypertension (p = 0.001), and they had higher ESR levels at diagnosis (p = 0.0001). Differently, TAK patients had longer delay to diagnosis from the beginning of symptoms (p = 0.048), they presented more frequently with loss of pulses of large arteries (p = 0.0001), vascular bruits (p = 0.001), limb claudication (p = 0.003), myocardial infarction/angina (p = 0.03), and hypertension induced by renal artery stenosis (p = 0.001). Regarding treatment, TAK patients received a higher total and at 1 year cumulative prednisone doses (p = 0.0001 and p = 0.001, respectively), they had a longer duration of prednisone therapy (p = 0.008), and received during follow-up more frequently traditional immunosuppressants (p = 0.0001) and biological agents (p = 0.0001). Flares were more frequently observed in TAK patient (p = 0.001), while no differences were observed for long-term remission. New vascular procedures during the follow-up were more frequently performed in TAK patients (p = 0.0001). Regarding imaging at diagnosis, TAK patients had more frequently vascular stenosis/occlusion (p = 0.0001) and a higher number of vessels with structural damage per person (p = 0.0001), while LV-GCA patients had a higher number of inflamed vessels per person (p = 0.0001). Comparing the involved vascular districts at diagnosis for the presence of vessel inflammation and/or arterial damage, patients with LV-GCA had a more frequent involvement of thoracic and abdominal aorta (p = 0.024 and p = 0.007, respectively), and axillary, iliac and femoral arteries (p = 0.018, p = 0.002, and p = 0.0001. respectively), while in TAK patients, brachiocephalic, celiac, mesenteric and renal arteries were more frequently involved (p = 0.011, p = 0.019, p = 0.019, and p = 0.005, respectively). At imaging arterial damage at diagnosis was more frequently observed in TAK patients, specifically at common carotid, brachiocephalic, and subclavian arteries (p = 0.0001, p = 0.006, p = 0.0001, respectively) and descending aorta (p = 0.022). Regarding imaging during the follow-up, TAK patients developed more frequently new vascular stenosis/occlusion (p = 0.0001) and new vascular thickening (p = 0.002), no differences were observed for the development of new dilatation/aneurysm between the two vasculitides. Patients with TAK and LV-GCA show a number of similarities and also differences. Indeed, it is unclear whether they are part of the same disease spectrum or they are different conditions. As more information regarding the pathogenesis and etiology becomes known, answers to these questions are like to be forthcoming.

Boiardi L ，Galli E ，Macchioni P ，Muratore F ，Klinowski G ，Hunder GG ，Casali M ，Besutti G ，Spaggiari L ，Versari A ，Croci S ，Mancuso P ，Rossi PG ，Marvisi C ，Salvarani C ... -  《-》