Fan et al evaluated pediatric patients with Takayasu's arteritis. They identified a number of prognostic factors. The authors are from Fuwai Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College in Beijing.
Median age: 14 years
Median BMI: 19.7
Sites of major vascular involvement: abdominal aorta; renal, sublcavian, carotid, coronary arteries
Outcomes: rehospitalization, vascular complication, flare, death
Mortality rate: 3% (mid-aortic syndrome; coronary artery involvement)
Poor prognostic factors:
(1) lower BMI at presentation
(2) younger age at presentation
(3) stroke
(4) elevated CRP (above the upper limit of normal)
Predictors of events (vascular complications, flares, death):
(1) BMI (HR 0.49)
(2) stroke (HR 7.4)
(3) revascularization (HR 0.51): balloon angioplasty, stenting, bypass graft, valve replacement, pseudoaneurysm repair