Takayasu’s arteritis in Arabs

Abstract

The objective of this study was to describe epidemiological and clinical features of Takayasu's arteritis (TA) among Arab populations and to compare it to other populations. We conducted a systematic review of reports about TA from Arab countries published in English and French until 2013. All published papers were reviewed including original research and case reports. There were 197 patients (176 females) reported in 28 publications that comprised 8 original research publications (with a total of 163 patients) and 20 case reports (reporting 34 patients). These patients were from countries with a total population of approximately 80 million (Tunisia, Morocco, Jordan, Lebanon, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain). The female to male ratio was 7:1. Mean age at disease onset was 28 years, and the mean delay in diagnosis was 3.5 years. Clinical manifestations are constitutional symptoms in 44 %, limb claudication in 64 %, Raynaud's in 6 %, erythema nodosum in 3.6 %, visual disturbances in 30 %, carotidynia in 7 %, neurologic manifestations in 56 %, and hypertension in 34.5 % of patients. Involvement of the aortic arch and its branches were observed in about 80 % of patients. The overall mortality was very low over a period of 5.4 years of follow-up, and the course of the disease was quite stable in about 50 % of patients. The demographical and clinical findings of TA in Arabs are similar to what has been reported from different parts of the world. A relatively long delay in diagnosis may be in part due to low awareness of a relatively rare disease.

Update on Takayasu's arteritis

“…A systematic review collected only 197 patients from 7 Arab countries with a population of approximately 80 million, demonstrating a low prevalence [24]. The demographical and clinical findings of TAK in Arabs is reported to be similar to other series, with the course of the disease "quite stable'' in about 50% of patients and the overall mortality is low during 5.4 years of follow-up.…”

Takayasu’s arteritis: a rare disease in Poland

“…In Western Australia, per million inhabitants the annual incidence and prevalence was 0.3 and 3.2 for Caucasians and 1.1 and 15 for Asians [13]. In Arabs, the demographical and clinical findings of TA were reported to be similar to that reported from different parts of the world [14].…”

Takayasu’s disease effects on the kidneys: current perspectives

“…10 In 2014, a review in Arab populations of seven countries reported demographic findings comparable with those in other parts of the world. [11][12][13][14]…”

“…In 2012, four Italian patients with active LVV (two with GCA and two with TA), treated with TCZ, showed a satisfactory clinical and laboratory response, with significant improvements in PET/CT findings, without serious adverse events. 61 In 2017, a single-center prospective study analyzed the efficacy and safety of TCZ in 16 Chinese TA patients (15 patients with previous conventional immune suppressants); three patients withdrew TCZ after one infusion due to unbearable neck pain; the other 13 patients were treated for a median of 13 (7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20) months with reduction of ESR, CRP, and mural thickness of common carotid artery and subclavian artery. 62 The favorable outcome of B-cell depletion therapy through rituximab treatment in refractory TA was reported by Hoyer in 2012 (three subjects) and Caltran et al in 2014 (two subjects).…”