Comparing physical and psychosocial health in people with Takayasu arteritis, Behçet's disease, and healthy adults

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

This will test whether adults with Takayasu arteritis or Behçet's disease have weaker respiratory and limb muscles, lower exercise capacity, or different quality of life and psychological well‑being compared with healthy adults.

Quick facts

• Study type: Observational
• Enrollment: 30 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years and up
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: Alanya Alaaddin Keykubat University (Academic / other)
• Locations: 1 site (Denizli, Denizli)
• Trial ID: NCT07276087 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This is a cross-sectional, case-control observational study comparing adults with Takayasu arteritis, adults with Behçet's disease, and healthy controls. Participants will undergo standardized measurements of respiratory muscle strength (maximal inspiratory/expiratory pressures), peripheral muscle strength (handgrip and limb dynamometry), functional capacity tests (six-minute walk test, squat test), body composition, and validated questionnaires on quality of life, illness perception, and psychological status. Data will be compared across the three groups to characterize physical performance and psychosocial impact associated with each vasculitis. The protocol excludes pregnant individuals, those with major psychiatric or neurological disorders, or cognitive impairment that would interfere with participation.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Adults aged 18 or older with a confirmed diagnosis of Takayasu arteritis (ACR criteria) or Behçet's disease (International Study Group criteria), or healthy adults without chronic inflammatory disease, who can give written informed consent are eligible.

Not a fit: People under 18, pregnant individuals, those with major psychiatric or neurological disorders, cognitive impairment, or active conditions that prevent performing physical tests are not expected to benefit from participation.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If clear differences are identified, clinicians could better target rehabilitation, exercise, and psychosocial support to improve function and quality of life for people with these vasculitides.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has reported reduced physical performance and impaired quality of life in systemic vasculitis, but direct head-to-head comparisons between Takayasu arteritis and Behçet's disease versus healthy controls remain limited.

Eligibility criteria

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.

Where this trial is running

Denizli, Denizli

• Pamukkale University — Denizli, Denizli, Turkey (Türkiye) (Recruiting)

Study contacts

• Study coordinator: Özlem Nur Tok Yaman, MSc

Conditions Takayasu Arteritis; Behçet's Disease; Healthy Controls; Takayasu arteritis; Behçet's disease; Systemic vasculitis; Muscle strength