Clinical features of large vessel vasculitis (LVV): Elderly-onset versus young-onset

Abstract

Objectives

We compared large vessel vasculitis (LVV) clinical features between age groups.

Methods

We retrospectively examined clinical features and therapies in 41 LVV patients at our hospital from January 2010 to March 2020. We compared two patient groups, elderly (≥50 years) and young (<50 years).

Results

Of all patients, 29 were elderly and 12 were young. In the younger group, upper extremity symptoms (p <.05), bruits (p <.01), and cardiovascular complications (p <.01) were more common. Of the elderly group, 7 (24%) met classification criteria for giant cell arteritis while none of the younger group met these criteria; however, 10 (83%) of the younger group and 3 (10%) of the elderly group met the ACR classification criteria for Takayasu arteritis (p <.01). In the elderly group, 16 patients (66%) met no criteria (p <.01). There were no significant differences in laboratory findings but imaging showed a significantly higher incidence of head and neck artery lesions in the younger group (p <.05). The younger group was more likely to receive additional tocilizumab (p <.01) and cardiovascular complications were more likely to occur in younger patients (p < .01).

Conclusion

LVV clinical features differed between elderly- and young-age-onset groups.

Keywords:

• Aortitis
• giant cell arteritis
• large vessel vasculitis
• Takayasu arteritis
• vasculitis

Acknowledgments

We thank Dr. Bryan J. Mathis of the Medical English Communications Center, University of Tsukuba, for the language review of this manuscript.

Conflicts of interest

None.