Physical and Psychosocial Parameters in Takayasu Arteritis and Behçet's Disease: A Comparative Study With Healthy Controls

Systemic vasculitis refers to a group of rare diseases characterized by inflammation of blood vessel walls, which may cause ischemia and structural damage in various organs. Among large-vessel vasculitides, Takayasu arteritis primarily affects the aorta and its main branches, whereas Behçet's disease is a variable vessel vasculitis involving arteries and veins of all sizes. Both conditions can lead to multisystemic involvement and significantly impact physical and psychosocial health.

This observational, case-control study aims to compare multiple physical and psychosocial parameters among individuals with Takayasu arteritis, Behçet's disease, and healthy controls. Assessments will include respiratory and peripheral muscle strength, functional status, exercise capacity, body composition, quality of life, illness perception, and psychological well-being. Measurements will be conducted using standardized clinical tests (such as maximal inspiratory and expiratory pressures, handgrip and limb strength dynamometry, squat test, and six-minute walk test) and validated questionnaires (Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ), the Short Form-36 Health Survey (SF-36), the EuroQol 5-Dimension 5-Level Questionnaire (EQ-5D-5L), and the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS)).

The study seeks to identify differences between groups and provide a comprehensive understanding of how systemic inflammation in Takayasu arteritis and Behçet's disease affects physical performance, quality of life, and psychosocial health. These findings may help guide physiotherapy, rehabilitation, and multidisciplinary management strategies for patients with systemic vasculitis.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Takayasu Arteritis; Healthy Controls; Behçet's Disease
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: No intervention (observational study)

Detailed Description

Systemic vasculitis represents a heterogeneous group of rare inflammatory diseases that affect blood vessel walls, potentially leading to ischemia, tissue damage, and multi-organ dysfunction. Among them, Takayasu arteritis (TAK) and Behçet's disease (BD) are chronic, relapsing vasculitides characterized by systemic inflammation and variable vessel involvement. These diseases may cause not only organ-specific pathology but also generalized effects on muscle strength, physical function, and psychosocial well-being.

Previous studies have reported reduced physical performance, fatigue, and impaired quality of life in patients with systemic vasculitis. However, there is limited evidence directly comparing physical and psychosocial parameters between individuals with Takayasu arteritis, Behçet's disease, and healthy controls. The current literature lacks a comprehensive approach addressing the multidimensional impact of these diseases on functional and psychological outcomes.

This observational, cross-sectional study aims to fill this gap by evaluating and comparing respiratory and peripheral muscle strength, functional capacity, quality of life, illness perception, and related psychosocial parameters among these three groups. Measurements will include maximal inspiratory and expiratory pressures, handgrip and limb muscle strength via digital dynamometry, functional tests such as the squat test and the six-minute walk test, and standardized self-reported questionnaires including the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ), the Short Form-36 Health Survey (SF-36), the EuroQol 5-Dimension 5-Level Questionnaire (EQ-5D-5L), and the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS).

The study is expected to provide a multidimensional understanding of how systemic inflammation in Takayasu arteritis and Behçet's disease affects physical and psychosocial functioning. The findings are anticipated to contribute to the literature by highlighting differences between disease groups and healthy controls and to guide future physiotherapy and rehabilitation strategies aimed at improving overall health and quality of life in individuals with systemic vasculitis.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Estimated): 30

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Özlem Nur Tok Yaman, MSc; Phone Number: +90-242-5106060; Email: ozlem.tok@alanya.edu.tr

Study Locations

• Turkey (Türkiye)
  • Denizli
    • Denizli, Denizli, Turkey (Türkiye)
      • Recruiting
      • Pamukkale University
      • Contact: Bilge Başakcı Çalık, Prof. Dr.; Phone Number: +90-258-296-2000; Email: bbcalik@pau.edu.tr

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

The study population will consist of individuals aged 18 years and older who have been diagnosed with Takayasu arteritis or Behçet's disease and are being followed at the Rheumatology Department of Pamukkale University, as well as age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers without systemic, neurological, or musculoskeletal disease. All participants will provide written informed consent prior to inclusion in the study.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

Inclusion Criteria (Takayasu Arteritis Group):

• Age 18 years or older.
• Diagnosis of Takayasu arteritis according to the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) classification criteria.
• Voluntary participation with written informed consent.

Inclusion Criteria (Behçet's Disease Group):

• Age 18 years or older.
• Diagnosis of Behçet's disease according to the International Study Group for Behçet's Disease criteria.
• Voluntary participation with written informed consent.

Inclusion Criteria (Healthy Control Group):

• Age 18 years or older.
• No history of systemic, rheumatologic, or chronic inflammatory disease.
• Voluntary participation with written informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

Exclusion Criteria (Patient Groups - Takayasu Arteritis and Behçet's Disease):

• Pregnancy.
• Presence of psychiatric disorder or ongoing psychiatric treatment.
• Cognitive impairment that may interfere with participation.
• Presence of neurological disease (e.g., hemiplegia, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, vertigo, epilepsy, etc.).
• History of any surgical operation within the past year.
• Coexisting rheumatic disease other than Takayasu arteritis or Behçet's disease.

Exclusion Criteria (Healthy Control Group):

• Pregnancy.
• Presence of psychiatric disorder or ongoing psychiatric treatment.
• Cognitive impairment that may interfere with participation.
• Presence of neurological disease (e.g., hemiplegia, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, vertigo, epilepsy, etc.).
• History of any surgical operation within the past year.
• History of rheumatologic or chronic inflammatory disease.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

3

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
Takayasu Arteritis Group; Participants diagnosed with Takayasu arteritis according to established clinical and imaging criteria.	Other: No intervention (observational study); Participants will not receive any treatment or intervention. The study involves only physical and psychosocial assessments and questionnaires.
Behçet's Disease Group; Participants diagnosed with Behçet's disease according to the International Study Group criteria.	Other: No intervention (observational study); Participants will not receive any treatment or intervention. The study involves only physical and psychosocial assessments and questionnaires.
Healthy Control Group; Age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers with no systemic or chronic disease.	Other: No intervention (observational study); Participants will not receive any treatment or intervention. The study involves only physical and psychosocial assessments and questionnaires.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Peripheral muscle strength	Peripheral muscle strength will be assessed using the Commander Echo™ Muscle Testing Dynamometer (JTECH Medical, USA) for upper and lower extremities. Measurements will include quadriceps, biceps, and shoulder abductor muscle strength. The average of three trials will be recorded in kilograms.	Single assessment (baseline only)
Respiratory Muscle Strength	Measured by maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) and maximal expiratory pressure (MEP) using a portable electronic manometer (Micro Medical MicroMPM, UK).	Single assessment (baseline only)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Functional Exercise Capacity-Six-Minute Walk Test (6MWT)	Assessed by the Six-Minute Walk Test (6MWT), following standardized ATS/ERS guidelines. Distance walked will be recorded in meters.	Single session at baseline
Functional Status- Health Assessment Questionnaire	Evaluated using the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ). Scores range from 0 to 3, with higher scores indicating worse disability.	Single session at baseline
General Health Perception - Visual Analogue Scale (VAS)	General health perception will be assessed using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). The VAS consists of a 100 mm horizontal line anchored by "very good" at one end and "very poor" at the other. Participants are asked to mark a point on the line that best represents their perceived general health. The score is determined by measuring the distance in millimeters from the "very good" anchor to the participant's mark. Higher scores indicate worse perceived health status.	Single assessment at baseline.
Quality of Life - Short Form-36 Health Survey (SF-36)	The SF-36 (Short Form Health Survey) will assess health-related quality of life. Scores range from 0 to 100; higher scores indicate better health status.	Single session at baseline
Quality of Life - EuroQol 5-Dimension 5-Level Questionnaire (EQ-5D-5L)	Quality of life will be assessed using the EuroQol 5-Dimension 5-Level Questionnaire (EQ-5D-5L). The EQ-5D-5L includes five dimensions (mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort, and anxiety/depression), each scored from 1 to 5, where higher scores indicate more severe problems. The instrument also includes a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), on which participants rate their overall health from 0 (worst imaginable health) to 100 (best imaginable health). Higher VAS scores indicate better perceived health.	Single session at baseline.
Illness Perception - Illness Perception Questionnaire (IPQ)	Illness perception will be assessed using the Illness Perception Questionnaire (IPQ). Higher scores indicate stronger negative illness perceptions.	Single session at baseline
Fat Mass (kilograms)	Measured via bioelectrical impedance analysis using the Polosmart PSC12 Prolife device. Recorded in kilograms.	Single session at baseline
Muscle Mass (kilograms)	Measured via bioelectrical impedance analysis using the Polosmart PSC12 Prolife device. Recorded in kilograms.	Single session at baseline
Body Fat Percentage	Measured via bioelectrical impedance analysis using the Polosmart PSC12 Prolife device. Recorded as percentage of total body weight.	Single session at baseline.

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: ÖZLEM NUR TOK YAMAN
• Collaborators: Pamukkale University; Uşak University; Alanya Alaaddin Keykubat University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): September 11, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): December 30, 2025
• Study Completion (Estimated): January 30, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: November 18, 2025
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 9, 2025
• First Posted (Actual): December 10, 2025

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): December 10, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 9, 2025
• Last Verified: October 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Takayasu arteritis; Muscle strength; Systemic vasculitis; Behçet's disease
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Mouth Diseases; Stomatognathic Diseases; Vascular Diseases; Cardiovascular Diseases; Genetic Diseases, Inborn; Eye Diseases; Skin Diseases; Skin Diseases, Vascular; Skin Diseases, Genetic; Aortic Diseases; Uveal Diseases; Vasculitis; Panuveitis; Uveitis, Anterior; Uveitis; Hereditary Autoinflammatory Diseases; Arteritis; Congenital, Hereditary, and Neonatal Diseases and Abnormalities; Skin and Connective Tissue Diseases; Aortic Arch Syndromes; Systemic Vasculitis; Takayasu Arteritis; Behcet Syndrome; Investigative Techniques; Methods; Observation
• Other Study ID Numbers: PAU-KAEK-2025-17

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No