Assessment of damage in Takayasu's arteritis

To assess the progression and the factors associated with damage in Takayasu's arteritis (TAK) patients during routine follow-up.

Patients diagnosed with TAK and had >6 months follow-up were enrolled in this study retrospectively. Takayasu's arteritis damage score (TADS) and vasculitis damage index (VDI) were determined at diagnosis and at the end of the follow-up and variables associated with damage scores were assessed.

One-hundred fourteen patients (F/M: 101/13) were included in the study. The mean age at diagnosis, median symptom duration at baseline visit and mean follow-up duration were 35.3±13.3 years, 12 (0-360) months and 76.9±51.4 months, respectively. Median VDI score was 4.0 (1-8) and median TADS score was 7.0 (1-15) at baseline assessment. At the end of the follow-up, median VDI score increased to 5.0 (1-17) and TADS score to 8.0 (1-19). The median number of disease-related items were higher in TADS (8 items vs 4 items). At least one new corticosteroid (CS)-related damage item occurred in 35 patients (31%). Age at symptom-onset and cumulative CS doses were predictor factors for higher VDI score (≥5), whereas age at symptom-onset and disease duration were associated with increase in TADS (≥8). Gender and number of relapses were not associated with damage scores.

Damage assessment with VDI seems to capture treatment-related damage better, whereas TADS provides some additional information on disease-related damage in Takayasu's arteritis. Older age at symptom onset, disease duration and cumulative CS dose were associated with higher damage scores. The relapse frequency did not influence the damage level in our routine-follow-up of TAK patients.