Kerr et al provided criteria for active disease in a patient with Takayasu arteritis. The authors are from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at NIH and George Washington University in Washington, D.C.
Parameters:
(1) systemic features without other explanation (fever, malaise, weight loss, night sweats, myalgia, joint pain)
(2) elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)
(3) vascular ischemia or inflammation (claudication, diminished pulse, bruit, vascular pain, asymmetry in limb blood pressure readings)
(4) angiographic findings with arterial stenosis
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Status for Each Parameter
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Points
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absent
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0
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decreased
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0
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stable, unchanged
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0
|
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worsening
|
1
|
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new onset
|
1
|
where:
• Pain along the course of the common carotid artery is termed carotodynia.
activity score =
= SUM(points for all 4 parameters)
Interpretation:
• minimum activity score: 0
• maximum activity score: 4
• An activity score >= 2 indicates active Takayasu arteritis.
Criteria for remission - one or both of the following:
(1) complete resolution of clinical features
(2) stabilization of all findings with fixed vascular lesions.
Criteria for partial remission or smoldering disease - one or both of the following:
(1) decrease in clinical symptoms
(2) improved clinical status, in the absence of a complete remission
