[Takayasu's arteritis in Tunisia: a monocentric study of 11 patients]

Takayasu's disease is a chronic inflammatory arteritis involving large vessels in young women.

To assess the clinical, laboratory, and radiological features and course of Takayasu arteritis in Tunisia.

This retrospective study analyzed 11 patients with Takayasu arteritis between 1999 and 2010 who met the criteria for inclusion proposed by the American College of Rheumatology (ACR).

The file review identified 11 women, with a mean age at diagnosis of 29.1 years (range: 17-50 years). Our series included involvement of the aortic arch and its branches in 8 cases, while only 3 cases of the abdominal aorta. Arterial hypertension due to stenosis of the renal arteries was noted in 4 cases. Aortic insufficiency and pulmonary hypertension were noted in one case. In all, 3 patients had type I disease, 3 type V and one type IV. In all, 4 patients had glucocorticoid treatment, and one needed immunosuppressive therapy. Three patients required surgical intervention. Our patients were followed for a mean period of 67.5 months. Disease remained stable in all patients.

Despite the small number of our patients, the clinical manifestations, angiographic data and course in our study were similar to those in other reported series.