The clinical characteristics of Chinese Takayasu’s arteritis patients: a retrospective study of 411 patients over 24 years

BACKGROUND We aimed to investigate the clinical characteristics of 411 Chinese Takayasu's arteritis (TAK) patients using a retrospective analysis. METHODS We retrospectively reviewed 810 medical charts of patients with a diagnosis of TAK who were admitted to Peking Union Medical College Hospital from 1990 to 2014. 411 patients with a complete dataset were finally included in the analysis. The demographic data, clinical features, angiographic patterns, and TAK-related surgical procedures were collected and analyzed. RESULTS The median age at disease onset was 23 (18, 30) years old, with a median disease duration of 21 (6, 60) months; 325 (79.1%) were female. The angiographic involvement pattern was type I in 91 (22.1%) patients, type IIa in 16 (3.9%) patients, type IIb in 16 (3.9%) patients, type III in 12 (2.9%) patients, type IV in 26 (6.3%) patients, and type V in 250 (60.8%) patients. Subclavian arteries (79.8%) were the most commonly involved, followed by carotid arteries (79.1%). The occurrence rate (4.1%) of aortic aneurysm in this study was low; 119 operations and interventions were performed. The most common cause of death in this study was heart failure. CONCLUSION Subclavian arteries, carotid arteries, and type V were the most frequently involved arteries and angiography pattern in this Chinese TAK study. The difference in angiographic features may lead to differences in clinical manifestations. Surgical operation and interventions should be performed at different stages of the disease course.