Features of the Onset of Takayasu's Arteritis According to Gender

BACKGROUND Although there are various published epidemiological studies regarding Takayasu's arteritis (TA), none have analyzed the influence of gender on the clinical and laboratory manifestations or vascular alterations at disease onset. OBJECTIVES To analyze the influence of gender on clinical and laboratory manifestations and variations in vascular imaging at TA onset. METHODS A retrospective, unicentric cohort study that evaluated 55 consecutive TA patients between 1982 and 2012. All available clinical data and laboratory test results related to the onset of the disease were analyzed. We included only patients aged 12-35 years at diagnosis to exclude age-related factors. RESULTS We analyzed 17 men and 38 women, mostly Caucasian, with a comparable mean age between genders. There was no gender difference regarding the clinical or laboratory characteristics, comorbidities, or smoking habit, except for abdominal pain, which was more common in men. Regarding vascular lesions, the presence of ascending aortic aneurysms was significantly more frequent in males. Male gender represented an independent risk factor for the occurrence of abdominal pain and ascending aortic aneurysms in TA patients. CONCLUSION Abdominal pain and ascending aortic aneurysms occurred more frequently in men with TA, suggesting a more severe disease profile in males.