Childhood-onset versus adult-onset Takayasu arteritis: A study of 239 patients from China.

Objective: We aimed to compare clinical features, vascular involvement, disease activity, and management between Chinese patients with childhood-onset Takayasu arteritis (cTAK) and adult-onset Takayasu arteritis (aTAK).

Methods: In total, 239 patients with TAK from the pediatric and adult rheumatology departments of two tertiary care centers were retrospectively evaluated. Data on demographic characteristics, laboratory results, disease activity, vascular involvement, and management regimens were collected and compared between the cTAK and aTAK patients.

Results: In total, 85 cTAK and 154 aTAK patients were enrolled. There was a significant difference in the female/male ratio between the cTAK and aTAK groups (2.3:1 vs. 10.8:1, P<0.001). Fever, hypertension, arrhythmia, and heart failure were more frequent in the cTAK group. The median Indian Takayasu Clinical Activity Score-scores were significantly higher in the cTAK group compared to the aTAK group (5 vs. 3, P=0.004). The prevalence of supra-aortic artery involvement was significantly higher in the aTAK group than in the cTAK group (P<0.05). The rate of involvement of coronary and renal arteries was significantly lower in the aTAK group than in the cTAK group (P<0.05). Compared to the aTAK patients, the cTAK patients were more likely to be treated with biological agents (76.5% vs. 9.1%, P<0.001).

Conclusion: cTAK patients had more severe disease and inflammation. Coronary and renal artery involvement was more common among cTAK patients, whereas supra-aortic artery involvement was more common in aTAK patients increasing their risk of cerebral infarction. Biologics were used more frequently in cTAK patients.