Background: Takayasus arteritis (TA) is a rare disease which appears to be m ost common in East Asia. However, the disease has been reported to be worldwide. The clinical features of the disease can show variations in different geographi cal areas. The aim of this study is to evaluate clinical, laboratory and radiolo gical features and the outcome of patients with TA in our hospital. Methods: The hospital files of patients who were followed with the diagnosis of TA between t he years 1973 and 2003 in Hacettepe University Hospital were retrospectively eva luated. Results: Male/female ratio was 5/40, and the mean age was 34 years (18- 59). Constitutional symptoms were present in 71%of the patients. Claudication a nd pallor of the extremity, decreased extremity pulsations, arterial hypertensio n, and arterial bruits were present in 44%, 56%, 58%, and 27%of the patients , respectively. Aortic valv-ular insufficiency, abdominal aortic aneurism, and cardiomegaly were present in four, one, and four patients, respectively. The ini tial complaint of six patients was cerebrovascular events. The distribution of t he patients according to the angiographic findings was as follows, 56%Type I, 18%Type II , 22%Type III, and 4%Type IV arteritis. The need for vascular surgical interve ntions were significantly less common in patients who were treated with immunosu ppressives plus alternate dose steroids (6%) compared to patients who were trea ted only with antiaggregant agents (33%). Conclusions: The demographic and angi ographic findings of our patients were similar to previous observations from Jap an and Italy, and disclose distinct clinical features in comparison to other Asi an countries. Alternate-day glucocorticoids plus cytotoxic drugs may be benefic ial and safe in patients with TA. Background: Takayasu  s arteritis (TA) is a rare disease which appears to be most common in East Asia. However, the disease has been reported to be worldwide. The clinical features of the disease can show variations in different geographi cal areas. The aim of this study is to evaluate clinical, laboratory and radiolo gical features and the outcome of patients with TA in our hospital. Methods: The hospital files of patients who were followed with the diagnosis of TA between t years years 1973 and 2003 in Hacettepe University Hospital were retrospectively eva luated. Results: Male / female ratio was 5/40, and the mean age was 34 years (18- 59). Constitutional symptoms were present in 71% of the patients. Claudication a nd pallor of the extremity, decreased extremity pulsations, arterial hypertensions n, and arterial bruits were present in 44%, 56%, 58%, and 27% of the patients, respectively. Aortic valv-ular insufficiency, abdominal aortic aneurism, and cardiomegaly were present in four, one , The distribution of he patients according to the angiographic findings was as follows, 56% Type I, 18% Type II, 22% Type III, and 4% Type IV arteritis. The need for vascular surgical interve ntions were significantly less common in patients who were treated with immunosu ppressives plus alternate dose steroids (6%) compared to patients who were tret ted only with antiaggregant agents (33%). demographic and angiographic findings of our patients were similar to previous observations from Jap an and Italy, and disclose distinct clinical features in comparison to other Asi an countries. Alternate-day glucocorticoids plus cytotoxic drugs may be benefic ial and safe in patients with TA.