Markus Aschwanden1, Elke Schegk2, Stephan Imfeld1, Daniel Staub1, Christof Rottenburger3, Christoph T Berger4, Thomas Daikeler2. 1. Department of Angiology, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland. 2. Department of Rheumatology, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland. 3. Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland. 4. Departments of Biomedicine and Internal Medicine, Translational Immunology and Medical Outpatient Clinic, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To assess changes of arterial vessel wall morphology in large vessel GCA patients (LV-GCA) by repeated US. METHODS: Patients with LV-GCA on US examination were followed up 6, 12 and 24 months after diagnosis by US of the temporal, vertebral, carotid (common, internal, external), subclavian, axillary, femoral (deep, superficial and common) and popliteal arteries. Clinical and laboratory data were assessed at each visit. Vessel wall thickening was classified as moderate, marked or arteriosclerotic. RESULTS: A total of 42 patients (26 female) with a median age of 75 years at diagnosis had in median 2 (range 1-3) US follow-up exams. Twenty-eight had both LV and temporal artery involvement and 14 had LV-GCA only. The common carotid, subclavian, axillary, popliteal and/or superficial femoral artery were most commonly involved. Reduction of LV wall thickening occurred in 45% of patients during follow-up, corresponding to 71 of the 284 (25%) initially 'vasculitic' LV segments. In contrast, a reduction of vessel wall thickening in the temporal artery was found in 85% of patients. Of the LVs, the vertebral, axillary, subclavian and deep femoral arteries were most likely to improve. There was no difference in relapses or the received cumulative steroid dose between patients with or without a reduction of vessel wall thickening (temporal artery or LV) during follow-up. CONCLUSION: Regression of wall thickening within the LV is significantly less common than in the temporal artery and irrespective of clinical remission. Morphological regression does not seem to be a useful predictor for relapses.
OBJECTIVES: To assess changes of arterial vessel wall morphology in large vessel GCA patients (LV-GCA) by repeated US. METHODS:Patients with LV-GCA on US examination were followed up 6, 12 and 24 months after diagnosis by US of the temporal, vertebral, carotid (common, internal, external), subclavian, axillary, femoral (deep, superficial and common) and popliteal arteries. Clinical and laboratory data were assessed at each visit. Vessel wall thickening was classified as moderate, marked or arteriosclerotic. RESULTS: A total of 42 patients (26 female) with a median age of 75 years at diagnosis had in median 2 (range 1-3) US follow-up exams. Twenty-eight had both LV and temporal artery involvement and 14 had LV-GCA only. The common carotid, subclavian, axillary, popliteal and/or superficial femoral artery were most commonly involved. Reduction of LV wall thickening occurred in 45% of patients during follow-up, corresponding to 71 of the 284 (25%) initially 'vasculitic' LV segments. In contrast, a reduction of vessel wall thickening in the temporal artery was found in 85% of patients. Of the LVs, the vertebral, axillary, subclavian and deep femoral arteries were most likely to improve. There was no difference in relapses or the received cumulative steroid dose between patients with or without a reduction of vessel wall thickening (temporal artery or LV) during follow-up. CONCLUSION: Regression of wall thickening within the LV is significantly less common than in the temporal artery and irrespective of clinical remission. Morphological regression does not seem to be a useful predictor for relapses.
Authors: Kornelis S M van der Geest; Maria Sandovici; Pieter H Nienhuis; Riemer H J A Slart; Peter Heeringa; Elisabeth Brouwer; William F Jiemy Journal: Front Med (Lausanne) Date: 2022-06-06
Authors: Alwin Sebastian; Kornelis S M van der Geest; Fiona Coath; Prisca Gondo; Abdul Kayani; Craig Mackerness; Bernard Hadebe; Sue Innes; Jo Jackson; Bhaskar Dasgupta Journal: BMC Rheumatol Date: 2020-08-18
Authors: Kornelis S M van der Geest; Frances Borg; Abdul Kayani; Davy Paap; Prisca Gondo; Wolfgang Schmidt; Raashid Ahmed Luqmani; Bhaskar Dasgupta Journal: Ann Rheum Dis Date: 2020-01-03 Impact factor: 27.973