Surrogate markers of disease activity in patients with Takayasu arteritis - A preliminary report from The International Network for the Study of the Systemic Vasculitides (INSSYS)

Twenty-nine patients with clinically defined Takayasu arteritis and 26 heal thy control volunteers were recruited by INSSYS investigators from their cl inical practices. Patients with Takayasu arteritis were divided into those with clear-cut clinically active or inactive disease based on Birmingham Va sculitis Activity Scores. Multiple serological tests were performed includi ng ESR, C-reactive protein, tissue factor, von Willebrand factor, thrombomo dulin, tissue plasminogen activator, ICAM-1, VCAM-1, E-selectin and PECAM-1 . No test was reliably able to distinguish between healthy volunteers and p atients with active Takayasu arteritis. At present there is no known serolo gical test which can consistently supplant vascular histopathology in deter mining the activity of Takayasu arteritis. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Irelan d Ltd. All rights reserved.