Takayasu's arteritis associated with tuberculosis: a retrospective study

Takayasu arteritis (TA) and tuberculosis (TB) share similar histopathological and immunological characteristics. Studies comparing patients with TA with or without active or latent TB infection (LTBI) have revealed some differences in clinical and angiographic profiles. Patient with TA and history of TB exhibited more constitutional symptoms and structural damage to the aorta. This study compared the clinical and radiological features of patients with TA with and without active TB or LTBI.

We retrospectively analyzed the data of patients with TA at a public tertiary referral outpatient clinic in northeast Brazil from January 2017 to June 2022. Comparisons of clinical features were made according to the presence of TB.

Fifty patients met the eligibility criteria, and a association with TB was identified in 20 (40%) patients (active TB in six and LTBI in 14). There was a predominance of females, and the average age of patients was 40 years. Weight loss was more common in patients with TA and TB (p = 0.005). No significant intergroup differences were noted in terms of comorbidities, medications, erythrocyte sedimentation rates, or C-reactive protein levels. Significant differences were found in abdominal aortic involvement (25% of patients with TA and TB vs. 11.4% in subjects with TA without TB; p = 0.013). Dilations and aneurysms were significantly more common in patients with TA and TB (p = 0.009 and p = 0.027, respectively).

Patients with TA and TB have a higher prevalence of dilatation and aneurysms, most commonly in the abdominal aorta.