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Observational Study
. 2025 Feb 1;64(2):682-689.
doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/keae333.

Assessment of damage in Takayasu's arteritis

Tanaz A Kermani  1 , Antoine G Sreih  2   3 , David Cuthbertson  4 , Nader A Khalidi  5 , Curry L Koening  6 , Carol A Langford  7 , Carol A McAlear  2 , Paul A Monach  8 , Larry Moreland  9 , Christian Pagnoux  10 , Rennie L Rhee  2 , Philip Seo  11 , Kenneth J Warrington  12 , Peter A Merkel  13
Affiliations
Observational Study

Assessment of damage in Takayasu's arteritis

Tanaz A Kermani et al. Rheumatology (Oxford). .

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate damage and clinical characteristics associated with damage in Takayasu's arteritis (TAK).

Methods: Patients with TAK enrolled in a multicentre, prospective, observational study underwent standardized damage assessment every 6 months using the Vasculitis Damage Index (VDI) and the Large-Vessel Vasculitis Index of Damage (LVVID).

Results: The study included 236 patients with TAK: 92% female, 81% Caucasian; median (25th, 75th percentile) disease duration = 2.6 (0.12, 6.9) years. Eighty-four percent had follow-up: median (25th, 75th) duration 4.1 (1.9, 7.5) years. Items of damage were present in 89% on VDI, 87% on LVVID, in the peripheral vascular (76% VDI, 74% LVVID) and cardiac (40% VDI, 45% LVVID) systems. During follow-up, 42% patients had new damage, including major vessel stenosis/arterial occlusion (8%), limb claudication (6%), hypertension (7%), aortic aneurysm (4%) and bypass surgery (4%). Disease-specific damage accounted for >90% of new items. Older age, relapse and longer duration of follow-up were associated with new damage items; a higher proportion of patients without new damage were on MTX (P <0.05). Among 48 patients diagnosed with TAK within 180 days of enrolment, new damage occurred in 31% on VDI and 52% on LVVID. History of relapse was associated with new damage in the entire cohort while in patients with a recent diagnosis, older age at diagnosis was associated with new damage.

Conclusion: Damage is present in >80% of patients with TAK even with recent diagnosis and >40% of patients accrue new, mainly disease-specific damage. Therapies for TAK that better control disease activity and prevent damage should be prioritized.

Keywords: Large-Vessel Vasculitis Index of Damage; Takayasu’s arteritis; damage; vasculitis damage index.

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References

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