Takayasu's arteritis in Kuwait.

The present study describes the epidemiological profile and clinical features of Takayasu's arteritis (TA) in Kuwait, as well as its association with other autoimmune diseases and primary hypercoagulable states. Thirteen patients were included from its start on 1 January 1989 till 30 June 1994. Diagnosis of TA was established by angiographic studies. Twelve patients were Arabs and 7 were Kuwaiti nationals. Five patients were males and renal disease secondary to isolated involvement of the abdominal aorta (TA, type II) was the main presentation in 4 patients. Coagulation tests were performed in 7 patients and included antiphospholipid antibody (aPL) assay as well as protein S, protein C and antithrombin III activity. Only one manifested recurrent thrombosis and laboratory tests confirmed the presence of a hypercoagulable state secondary to aPL and protein S deficiency. Serological tests of systemic lupus erythematosis (SLE) were positive in this patient. These data indicate that TA is not a rare disease in the Arabic population. In our study, female predominance was not a common feature of TA and renal disease secondary to TA type II disease was commonly encountered. The association of TA with SLE and primary hypercoagulable states was not a consistent finding in our patients with TA, and hence, the proposed role for thrombotic vasculopathy in the pathogenesis and progression of this disease was unfounded.