Tuberculosis Increases Risk of severe Aortic complications among patients with Takayasu Arteritis: Study

Also, other clinical parameters like comorbidities, medication use, inflammatory markers like erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, showed no statistically significant differences between the 2 groups. However, the structural damage to the abdominal aorta, including dilations and aneurysms, was identified as a critical distinguishing factor in patients with a TB history. The study highlighted the overlapping histopathological and immunological characteristics of TA and TB, which may contribute to these differences. TB infections, whether active or latent, could exacerbate vascular inflammation and structural damage in TA patients.

These results emphasize the importance of screening for TB in individuals with TA and monitoring for potential vascular complications in those with a TB history. These findings could help guide treatment strategies and improve outcomes for this subset of TA patients. With TB still prevalent in many regions, especially in developing countries, these insights illuminate the need for a multidisciplinary approach to managing conditions like Takayasu arteritis that may interact with infectious diseases in complex ways. 

Source:

Souza Pedreira, A. L., de Oliveira Figueiroa, M. de L. C., Miranda, M. O., de Santana, A. R., Mattos, V. P., da Paz, A. S., Duran, C. C., & Santiago, M. B. (2024). Takayasu’s arteritis associated with tuberculosis: a retrospective study. Advances in Rheumatology (London, England), 64(1), 84. https://doi.org/10.1186/s42358-024-00424-5