Thirty-year overview of Japanese autopsy cases of Takayasu arteritis - Results of analysis of Japanese autopsy reports.

Abstract

Objective: The objective of the study was to analyse the trends in Takayasu arteritis (TAK) in Japan during three recent decades based on autopsy reports.

Methods: We extracted TAK cases from the Japanese Pathological Autopsy Reports published during three decades (1991-2000, 2001-10, and 2011-20) and compared the data for the number of cases, age, gender, malignant tumour complication rate, and cause of death.

Results: 322 TAK cases were reported during the 30 years. They represented 0.04-0.06% of the total autopsies, with little variation among the three decades. The peak age at autopsy increased: from the 60s for 1991-2010 to the 70s for 2011-20. The malignant tumour complication rate increased to 12.2%, 18.5%, and 22.7% during the three decades. However, about half of those cases had no metastases, and malignant tumours were rarely directly involved in a TAK patient's death. TAK-associated cardiovascular lesions accounted for most deaths.

Conclusions: Although the age at TAK onset showed little change during the 30 years, the age at autopsy has increased, suggesting that the long-term prognosis has improved. Although the malignant tumour complication rate increased with age, the most common causes of death were cardiovascular lesions.