Use of Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound for Detecting the Disease Activity of the Carotid Artery in Takayasu Arteritis

doi:10.37015/AUDT.2020.200010

Abstract

Abstract:

Objective: To investigate whether contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) is helpful for assessing the disease activity of Takayasu arteritis (TA).
Methods: Eighty-four patients with TA were examined with ultrasound (US) and CEUS. Intima-media thickness (IMT) of both sides of the common carotid artery was measured for each patient. Semiquantitative analyses of contrast enhancement within the arterial wall were performed with a visual interpretation scale. Disease activity was determined by one experienced physician based on Physician Global Assessment criteria.
Results: Carotid CEUS revealed that 6 arteries showed no enhancement (7.1%, 6/84) while 78 arteries showed homogeneous enhancement within the thickened wall (92.9%, 78/84). Grade 1 enhancement was noted in 40 patients, and grade 2 in 38 patients. IMT of the active group was significantly thicker than that of the inactive group (2.4 ± 0.9 mm vs. 1.8 ± 0.5 mm, P = 0.001) on B-mode US, and slightly correlated with ESR (r = 0.344, P < 0.05) and CRP (r = 0.261, P < 0.05). Grade 2 enhancement was observed more in the active patients (61.7% vs. 41.3%, P = 0.001) on CEUS.
Conclusions: CEUS is a convenient and non-invasive imaging modality that is useful for evaluating disease activity in TA patients by assessing the vascularization within the carotid wall.

Key words: Takayasu arteritis; Contrast-enhanced; Ultrasound; Carotid artery

Chaolun Li, MD, Lingying Ma, MD, Linjin Huang, MD, Hong Han, MD, Lingdi Jiang, MD, Wenping Wang, MD. Use of Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound for Detecting the Disease Activity of the Carotid Artery in Takayasu Arteritis. Advanced Ultrasound in Diagnosis and Therapy, 2020, 4(3): 189-194.

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