Clinical Characteristics and Treatment Outcomes of Patients With Newly Diagnosed Takayasu Arteritis in Japan During the First 2 Years of Treatment ― A Nationwide Retrospective Cohort Study ―

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to clarify recent clinical features and treatment outcomes in Japanese patients with newly diagnosed Takayasu arteritis (TAK) during the first 2 years of treatment.

Methods and Results: A nationwide multicenter retrospective cohort study for TAK was implemented to collect data between 2007 and 2014. The primary outcome of the study was clinical remission at Week 24. Of the 184 participants registered, 129 patients with newly diagnosed TAK were analyzed: 84% were female and the mean age at onset was 35 years. Clinical symptoms at diagnosis were mostly associated with large-vessel lesions. Frequent sites of vascular involvement included the carotid artery, subclavian artery, aortic arch, and descending aorta. The mean initial dose of prednisolone administered was 0.68 mg/kg/day, and 59% and 17% of patients received immunosuppressive drugs and biologics, respectively, by Week 104. Clinical remission at Week 24 and sustained clinical remission with daily prednisolone at ≤10 mg at Week 52 were achieved in 107 (82.9%) and 51 (39.5%) patients, respectively. The presence of signs and symptoms linked to large-vessel lesions was associated with failure to achieve sustained clinical remission at Week 52.

Conclusions: We elucidated the clinical characteristics, treatment outcomes, and factors associated with failure to achieve sustained clinical remission in patients with newly diagnosed TAK in Japan during the first 2 years of treatment.