Session Information
Title: Imaging of Rheumatic Diseases I: Imaging in Gout, Pediatric, Soft and Connective Tissue Diseases
Session Type: Abstract Submissions (ACR)
Background/Purpose: promising data has been recently published about the role of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEU) in the diagnosis and follow up of Takayasu arteritis (TA) -1,2-
Objective: to assess the role of CEU examination of the carotid artery in patients with large vessel vasculitis (LVV) compared to Positron Emission Tomography (PET).
Methods: 10 patients (8 TA,2 LVV, mean age 46±19y, mean disease duration 3.9±3.1y) were contemporary evaluated with total body PET and carotid arteries US gray scale and CEU (Esaote MyLab70, 13-5MH linear probe, contrast agent Sonovue). All the patients underwent complete clinical examination and laboratory determination of acute phase reactants. Imaging results were reported using a semiquantitave score ranging from 0 (no activity) to 3 (high activity). Comparison between the two tests were made using Cohen K test.
Results: At US gray scale examination 8/10 patients have high intima/media thickness (mean 1,5 mm ±0.46). In patients with positive contrast enhanced ultrasound the mean carotid intima-media thickness was 2,1mm ±0.48, while patients with negative contrast enhanced ultrasound presented a mean wall thickness of 0,9mm ±0.47; P = 0.009. There was no significant differences in clinical, demographic and laboratory data between patients with active and inactive disease. All the 4 patients with high/medium carotid activity at PET examination presented positive (activity score >1) CEU. Five of the 6 patients with low/absent PET signal have negative (activity score <2) CEU (K test = 0.800, good concordance).
Conclusion: CEU have a good concordance with PET. These results outline the potential role of CEU to be used in monitoring disease activity and response to treatment in LVV
Refercences:
1. Magnoni M. et al.; Assessment of Takayasu arteritis activity by carotid contrast-enhanced ultrasound. Circ Cardiovasc Imaging. 2011 Mar;4(2):e1-2
2. Giordana P et al.; Contrast-enhanced ultrasound of carotid artery wall in Takayasu disease: first evidence of application in diagnosis and monitoring of response to treatment. Circulation. 2011;124:245-7
Disclosure:
G. Germanò,
None;
P. Macchioni,
None;
N. Possemato,
None;
C. Salvarani,
None.
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ACR Meeting Abstracts - https://acrabstracts.org/abstract/contrast-enhanced-ultrasound-of-the-sovraortic-arteries-the-potential-role-in-monitoring-disease-activity-and-response-to-treatment-in-large-vessel-vasculitis/