Ocular Manifestations in an Italian Cohort of Patients with Takayasu Arteritis

ABSTRACT

Purpose

We describe ophthalmic manifestations, therapy, and outcomes in 16 patients with Takayasu arteritis (TA).

Methods

Takayasu retinopathy was detected in 15 eyes of 9 patients and hypertensive retinopathy in 14 eyes of 7 patients.

Results

Visual acuity was normal in 7 eyes, 20/40 to 20/200 in 20 eyes, counting fingers in 2 eyes, hand motion in 2 eyes, and no light perception in 1 eye. Glucocorticoids associated with immunosuppressive agents induced a sustained remission in 13 patients. Three relapsing-refractory patients were given the monoclonal antibody tocilizumab, which led to partial and complete response in 1 and 2 patients respectively. Steroid-induced cataracts developed in 4 patients. Restenosis and the consequent recurrence of visual symptoms were detected in 2 of 9 patients who underwent a patency procedure for their stenotic lesions.

Conclusions

Ocular manifestations were a common feature (37.2%) in our cohort of TA patients and were frequently responsible for severe visual deterioration.

Abbreviations

BCVA: best-corrected visual acuity; FFA: fundus fluorescein angiography; GC: glucocorticoids; HR: hypertensive retinopathy; ITAS: Indian Takayasu activity score; OCT: optical coherence tomography; TA: Takayasu arteritis; TR: Takayasu retinopathy.

KEYWORDS:

• Angiographic revascularization
• hypertensive retinopathy
• large vessel vasculitis
• ocular ischemic syndrome
• Takayasu arteritis
• Takayasu retinopathy

Author contributions

RD, GA and FD conceived and designed the study, retrieved, collected and had full access to all the data in the study, and take responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the analysis. RD wrote the manuscript. LC and LDS revised the manuscript for important intellectual content and supplied additional images of Takayasu arteritis. All authors reviewed the manuscript, approved the draft submission, and accept responsibility for all aspects of this study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

No financial support was received from any funding bodies in the public or commercial to carry out the work described in this manuscript.