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Epidemiology of Vasculitides in Khorasan Province, Iran
Mohammadhassan Jokar1, Zahra Mirfeizi1
1Department of Internal Medicine, Imam Reza Hospital, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
Insights
This study analyzed primary vasculitis demographics in Northeast Iran, finding Behcet's disease, cutaneous leukocytoclastic angiitis, and granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Wegener's) to be most common among 721 patients. These findings highlight regional variations in vasculitis prevalence.
Area of Science:
- Rheumatology
- Immunology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Vasculitides encompass over 20 distinct diseases characterized by blood vessel inflammation and damage.
- Understanding the demographic distribution of primary vasculitides is crucial for regional healthcare planning and resource allocation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the demographic characteristics and prevalence of primary vasculitides in Northeast Iran.
- To identify the most common types of vasculitis within the studied population.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of medical records from 721 patients diagnosed with primary vasculitis between 2002 and 2012.
- Classification of patients using the American College of Rheumatology 1990 criteria and the 2012 Revised International Chapel Hill Consensus Conference Nomenclature.
Main Results:
- Behcet's disease was the most prevalent (63.6%), followed by cutaneous leukocytoclastic angiitis (8.2%) and granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Wegener's) (6.8%).
- Takayasu's arteritis (6%), giant cell arteritis (4%), and IgA vasculitis (Henoch-Schonlein purpura) (3.5%) were also identified.
- Less common forms included polyarteritis nodosa, eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Churg-Strauss), microscopic polyangiitis, and cryoglobulinemic vasculitis.
Conclusions:
- Behcet's disease, cutaneous leukocytoclastic angiitis, and granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Wegener's) are the predominant primary vasculitides in Northeast Iran.
- The demographic profile of vasculitis in this region differs from global patterns, emphasizing the need for geographically specific epidemiological data.
Abstract:
Vasculitides are a heterogeneous group of more than 20 diseases defined by inflammation and destruction of blood vessels. We aimed to study the demographic characteristics of the primary vasculitides in the North East of Iran. We retrospectively studied the medical records of patients diagnosed with any kind of vasculitis at the Clinic and Department of Rheumatology of the Imam Reza Hospital, Mashhad, Iran between January 1, 2002, and December 31, 2012. Patients were classified according to the American College of Rheumatology 1990 criteria for the classification of vasculitis and the 2012 Revised International Chapel Hill Consensus Conference Nomenclature of Vasculitides. A total of 721 patients (51.5% male, 48.5% female) with a diagnosis of primary vasculitis was identified. The frequency distributions of vasculitic disorders were as follows: Behcet's disease, 63.6%; cutaneous leukocytoclastic angiitis, 8.2%; granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Wegener's), 6.8%; Takayasu's arteritis. 6%; giant cell arteritis, 4%; polyarteritis nodosa, 2.1%; microscopic polyangiitis, 0.6%; eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Churg-Strauss), 1.8%; cryoglobulinemic vasculitis, 0.3%; and IgA vasculitis (Henoch-Schonlein purpura), 3.5%. In our population, the most common forms of vasculitis are Behcet's disease, cutaneous leukocytoclastic angiitis, and granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Wegener's).
