Document Detail


Diagnosis of early Takayasu arteritis with sonography.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  12011371     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
OBJECTIVE: Takayasu arteritis is a large-vessel vasculitis that occurs predominantly in young females. The diagnosis is not usually established before arterial stenoses or occlusions are present. The aim of the study was to find out if sonography can aid in the diagnosis of the disease in earlier stages. METHODS: We describe three patients with early disease who had no haemodynamically relevant stenoses. They are compared with nine patients who were diagnosed in the stenotic/occlusive stage of the disease. All patients were German Caucasian females. Colour Doppler sonography and angiography were performed in all cases. RESULTS: Patients with early disease had general symptoms of fatigue and arthralgia and laboratory signs of inflammation, but neither bruits nor decrease of pulse rate. Sonography of the carotid and subclavian arteries demonstrated a characteristic, homogeneous, midechoic, circumferential thickening of the wall. At this stage of the disease it was difficult to get unequivocal results with angiography. In all nine remaining patients, sonography also demonstrated inflammation of the subclavian or carotid arteries, as did angiography in eight of these patients. CONCLUSION: Sonography of the carotid and subclavian arteries aids in the detection of early Takayasu arteritis. In young females with unclear symptoms and laboratory findings of generalized inflammation, the primary extracranial branches of the aortic arch should be investigated by sonography to detect early Takayasu arteritis.
Authors:
W A Schmidt; A Nerenheim; E Seipelt; C Poehls; E Gromnica-Ihle
Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Rheumatology (Oxford, England)     Volume:  41     ISSN:  1462-0324     ISO Abbreviation:  Rheumatology (Oxford)     Publication Date:  2002 May 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2002-05-15     Completed Date:  2002-07-03     Revised Date:  2007-11-15    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  100883501     Medline TA:  Rheumatology (Oxford)     Country:  England    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  496-502     Citation Subset:  AIM; IM    
Affiliation:
Medical Centre for Rheumatology Berlin-Buch, Berlin, Germany.
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Adolescent
Adult
Angiography
Aorta, Thoracic / pathology,  ultrasonography*
Aortic Valve Stenosis / pathology,  ultrasonography
Carotid Arteries / pathology,  ultrasonography
Female
Humans
Subclavian Artery / pathology,  ultrasonography
Takayasu Arteritis / pathology,  ultrasonography*
Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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