Background Takayasu arteritis (TAK) is a large vessel vasculitis of unknown etiology, predominantly affecting the aorta and/or its major branches and occurring before the age of 40 years.TAK has been described worldwide with an annual incidence in Europe ranging from 0.4 to 1.3 /1.000.000. TAK is more common in female. In the largest study from Japan, the female to male ratio was eight to one. In a recent Swedish epidemiologic study no male were identified. There are no epidemiological studies regarding Takayasu arteritis in Italian population.

Objectives To investigate the epidemiology of Takayasu arteritis in a Northern Italy area.

Methods All patients with incident TAK diagnosed between 1997 and 2015 living in the Reggio Emilia area were identified by capture and re-capture checking at computerized discharge diagnosis codes (ICD10) and at outpatients databases from rheumatology, internal medicine, surgery, pathology, imaging departments of Reggio Emilia Hospital and by examining the Reggio Emilia district database for rare diseases.The Reggio Emilia population is predominantly of Caucasian origin (92.5%) with a yearly increase in general population of 0.5% (from 438.588 inhabitants in 1997 to 533.827 in 2015).

Results There were 5 women satisfyng ACR 1990 criteria for TAK diagnosis during the 18 years study period. The overall age and sex-adjusted 18 years incidence per 100.000 persons aged <40 years was 2.2. (95% CI:0.71 to 5.09). The overall age-and sex-adjusted 20 years incidence per 100,000 women aged <40 years was 4.5. (95% CI:1.46 to 10.48). Median age at disease onset was 36y and at diagnosis was 39 years. The prevalence of TAK in the general population on December 31 2015 was 0.9 (95% CI: 0.31 to 2.19) while in female population aged <40 years was 4.4 (95% CI 1.47 to 10.54). All patients are still alive on December 31 2015.

Conclusions As observed in other epidemiological studies, TAK is a rare disease also in Northern Italy with a large prevalence of female.

Disclosure of Interest None declared