Characteristics of the patients with TA (n = 41) and those with severe sepsis or septic shock.
| Patients with TA | |
|---|---|
| Male/female | 3/38 |
| Age, yrs1 | 45 (12) |
| Age at disease onset, yrs1 | 33 (12) |
| No. receiving immunosuppressive agents | 29 |
| No. receiving TNF inhibitors | 16 |
| No. receiving tocilizumab | 2 |
| Prednisone dose (mg/day) 1 | 6.4 (8.1) |
| No. with active disease3 | 14 |
| ESR, mm/h2 | 22 (21; 1–78) |
| CRP, mg/l2 | 6.36 (9.25; 0.03–39.6) |
| Blood leukocytes, cells/μl2 | 7800 (2400; 4000–1400) |
| Blood neutrophils, cells/μl2 | 4500 (1800; 1900–9000) |
| No. with ESR elevations4 | 14 |
| No. with CRP elevations4 | 13 |
| PCT, μg/l2 | 0.02 (0.01; 0.02–0.08) |
| Patients with severe sepsis and septic shock, | n = 49 |
| Male/female | 26/23 |
| Age, yrs1 | 74 (10) |
| No. patients with severe sepsis | 33 |
| No. patients with septic shock | 16 |
| CRP, mg/l2 | 198 (149; 0.50–303) |
| PCT, μg/l2 | 28.8 (53.3; 0.05–243) |
| Blood leukocytes, cells/μl2 | 17,000 (17,000; 1100–88,000) |
↵1 Mean values (SD).
↵2 Mean values (SD; range).
↵3 According to NIH criteria.
↵4 According to local laboratory upper limit of normal. NIH: US National Institutes of Health; TA: Takayasu arteritis; TNF: tumor necrosis factor; ESR: erythrocyte sedimentation rate; CRP: C-reactive protein; PCT: procalcitonin.