Papers
Chinese Multidisciplinary Expert Task Force on Chronic Disease Management of TAK
Takayasu arteritis (TAK) is a chronic autoimmune disease with the characteristics of early onset, long course, high disability rate and heavy disease burden, which seriously affects the physical and mental health and quality of life of patients. So far, there are no guidelines or expert consensus on the chronic disease management of TAK. Therefore, we have developmented the first domestic multidisciplinary recommendations on the chronic diseases management throughout the entire course of TAK, aiming to standardize the diagnosis and treatment process, improve the diagnosis and treatment level, and improve the prognosis of the disease for clinicians in relevant disciplines. The keypoints of this consensus include: (1) TAK has an early onset and high mortality rate. Early screening of the disease with a focus on middle-aged and young people with abnormal blood pressure, weakened or absent pulse, neck pain, or cervical vascular murmurs should be emphasized; (2) 2022 ACR/EULAR classification standard is recommended for the diagnosis of TAK; (3) The comprehensive assessment includes disease activity, vascular injury, important organ structures and functions related to vascular injury, disease risk, comorbidities, and quality of life; (4) Kerr score is recommended to assess disease activity; (5) A comprehensive vascular assessment is recommended, ultrasound, MRA, CTA, and PET/CT can all be used as imaging methods for the diagnosis and follow-up evaluation of TAK; (6) Wall thickening, T2 weighted high signal, and wall enhancement on MRA; appearance of thickening, enhancement, and low attenuation loops in the vascular wall on CTA; and an increase in SUV value of the wall on PET/CT, indicating wall inflammation; (7) In disease diagnosis and follow-up, the structure and function of important organs are recommended to be evaluated based on clinical manifestations, affected vascular sites, and severity; (8) The treatment of TAK should be dominated by the rheumatologists, and a "patient-centered" chronic disease management model should be established under a multidisciplinary diagnosis and treatment to achieve full course standardized treatment; (9) Glucocorticoids (GCs) are the basic medication for inducing remission, which should be combined with disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) to achieve disease remission. Attention should be paid to drug efficacy and side effects; (10) Revascularization emphasizes the need for multidisciplinary teams (MDT) to negotiate and make decisions on the premise of stable disease control after sufficient anti-inflammatory treatment in the internal medicine department. Sequential internal medicine treatment and evaluation are still required after surgery; (11) Patients with pregnancy needs need to be comprehensively evaluated by the MDT to choose the appropriate timing of pregnancy, and closely monitored and followed up during pregnancy and childbirth; (12) Vaccination is best carried out during the stable period of the disease. During the use of glucocorticoids and DMARDs, inactivated vaccine can be inoculated, while live vaccine should be avoided; (13) Strengthen popular science promotion, improve the understanding, diagnosis and treatment level of TAK in relevant disciplines and grassroots medical workers, enhance patients' awareness and self-management ability of the disease, and implement a full lifecycle disease management model through tripartite collaboration between doctors, nurses, and patients.