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Background: Vessel wall inflammation, atherosclerosis and hypercoagulability may be responsible for ischemic events in Takayasu arteritis (TA). No study has evaluated the effect of antiplatelet therapy for the prevention of ischemic events in TA. Methods and Results:Forty-eight patients who met the ACR Classification Criteria for TA under follow-up at the Vasculitis Unit of Universidade Federal de São Paulo were evaluated retrospectively for clinical manifestations, therapy and arterial ischemic events. The mean age at study was 38.0 years and the mean age at TA diagnosis was 29.1 years. Women comprised for 89.6% of patients and 60.4% were Caucasian. Risk factors for cardiovascular disease were found in 44 patients (91.7%) The most common comorbidities for TA patients were hypertension (77.1%), high low-density lipoprotein (45.8%) and obesity (16.7%). Antiplatelet therapy was used by 62.5% of patients whereas anticoagulants were used by 12.5%. Acute ischemic events occurred in 29.2% of patients. TA patients with ischemic events used significantly less antiplatelet agents (14.3%) than those without ischemic events (82.4%), P<0.0001. No difference concerning ischemic events was observed in patients on anticoagulant therapy (P=0.339). The 3 deaths of TA patients were observed only in those who had presented ischemic events (P=0.021). Antiplatelet agents had a protective effect against ischemic events (hazard ratio =0.055, 95% confidence interval: 0.06-0.514; P=0.011). Conclusions:Antiplatelet therapy is associated with a lower frequency of ischemic events in patients with TA. Antiplatelet Therapy in Takayasu Arteritis review of medical records of forty-eight patients who fulfilled the 1990 American College of Rheumatology criteria for TA and were under regular follow-up at the Vasculitis Unit in the Universidade Federal de São Paulo (Unifesp). 13 All of the 52 TA patients registered at our Vasculitis Unit were screened for this study, but 4 of them had to be excluded due to incomplete medical records. Medical appointments were scheduled within every one to 3 months in order to evaluate patients for the activity and progression of TA. Blood samples were collected before each visit for complete blood counts, erythrocyte sedimentation rates, lipid profiles, fasting glucose, liver enzymes and renal function. The decision to prescribe aspirin was made by the assistant physician. Statins were prescribed when serum low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels exceeded 130 mg/dl.The present study was approved by the Institutional Ethics Committee. We collected information about demographic characteristics, disease features, arteriographic classification of TA, risk factors for cardiovascular diseases (CVD), acute ischemic events and medication used by the patients, including corticosteroids, immunosuppressive drugs, statins, anticoagulant and antiplatelet therapy. 14 The commencement dates for antiplatelet and anticoagulant therapy and of acute ischemic events were collected carefully. Time since the onset of symptoms suggestive o...

BSR guideline on diagnosis and treatment of giant cell arteritis: executive summary Author nameAffiliation (institution or patient organisation, city, country)