Treatment
The effects of biological agents on vascular structural lesions in Takayasu's arteritis
F. Erbasan1, İ. Uçar2, B. Aslan3, V. Yazisiz4, M.E. Terzioğlu5
- Akdeniz University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Antalya, Turkey. fundaerb@yahoo.com
- Akdeniz University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Antalya, Turkey.
- Akdeniz University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Antalya, Turkey.
- Akdeniz University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Antalya, Turkey.
- Akdeniz University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Antalya, Turkey.
CER13831
2021 Vol.39, N°2 ,Suppl.129
PI 0135, PF 0141
Treatment
Free to view
(click on article PDF icon to read the article)
PMID: 33506752 [PubMed]
Received: 17/07/2020
Accepted : 07/12/2020
In Press: 15/01/2021
Published: 19/05/2021
Abstract
OBJECTIVES:
The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) administered to patients with Takayasu’s arteritis (TAK) on disease activity and vascular damage.
METHODS:
This study included TAK patients who were receiving bDMARDs for at least six months. Disease activity (National Institutes of Health [NIH]), vascular lesions, and vascular damage (Combined Arteritis Damage Score [CARDS]) scores were determined.
RESULTS:
There were 21 TAK patients who received infliximab (INF) and/or tocilizumab (TCZ) (mean age = 38.6±11.8 years; female proportion = 20 [95.2%]). The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP) level, and NIH disease activity score were found to significantly decrease with bDMARD treatments. There were also significant decreases in the mean CARDS and the total number of vascular lesions after treatment (p<0.05). Unlike occlusions, an important decrease was observed in the occurrences of stenosis and aneurysms with bDMARD treatments. Regression was detected in the vascular lesions of 15 (71.4%) patients compared to the last image before bDMARD therapies.
CONCLUSIONS:
Our study results indicate that biological agents, such as INF and/or TCZ, that are used in the treatmentof TAK are capable of remedying certain vascular lesions and may provide additional benefits to patients with TAK who do not sufficiently respond to conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) treatment.
