Comparison of Clinical Features at the Onset of Takayasu’s Arteritis According to Age and Sex

Background: Takayasu’s arteritis (TA) is a large-vessel vasculitis that predominantly affects the aorta, pulmonary artery, and its main branches. The cause of TA is still unclear. Objective: To identify the clinical characteristics of TA at onset in different patient groups. Methods: The clinical manifestations, laboratory, and angiographic findings of 53 patients with TA based on age at onset and sex were retrospectively analysed. Results: The ratio of the incidence of TA in males and females was 1:4. Chest pain, reduced glomerular filtration rate (GFR), and multivessel involvement were the most common symptoms at TA onset in male patients. 17% of patients had an onset age >40 years, and the percentage of TA patients >40 years old with chest pain was significantly higher [6 (66.7%) vs 13 (29.5%) and p=0.031] than that in TA patients <40 years old. However, their renal artery involvement [1 (11.1%) vs 21 (47.7%)), p=0.042], abdominal aorta lesion [0 (0.0%) vs 16 (38.1%), p=0.030], and multiple vessel involvement [2 (22.2%) vs. 32 (72.7%), p=0.004] were significantly less evident. Multivariate analysis showed that hypertension and thoracic aortic lesion were predisposing factors for TA diagnosis [odds ratio (OR)=3.918, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.616-1566.185, p=0.026]. For patients with aortic insufficiency (OR=3.674, 95% CI=2.734-567.621, p=0.007) or aneurysm formation (OR=7.255, 95% CI=1.23-1628.614, p=0.044), ascending aortic lesion was an independent risk factor. Furthermore, patients >40 years with chest pain but no brachial pulse should be suspected to have TA. Conclusion: Hypertension and thoracic aortic lesion are predisposing factors for the diagnosis of TA. Male with TA was more prone to present with chest pain, multivessel involvement, and reduced GFR.