Longitudinal study to assess clinical and angiographic outcomes in patients with Takayasu arteritis who underwent 18F-FDG PET-CT scan

• Grant number: 15/16020-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Effective date (Start): April 01, 2016
• Effective date (End): March 31, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Medical Clinics
• Principal Investigator: Alexandre Wagner Silva de Souza
• Grantee: Míriam Fang Castro
• Host Institution: Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus São Paulo. São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Takayasu arteritis (TA) is a primary systemic vasculitis that affects large arteries, including the aorta and its main branches. The assessment of disease activity in AT is a challenge because of the silent progression in patients considered to be in remission. Noninvasive imaging tests help monitoring disease progression. Recently, PET-CT scan (Positron Emission Tomography - Computed Tomography) with 18-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) has been used in the assessment of disease activity in AT. The uptake of 18F-FDG in arterial walls may reflect arterial inflammation and consequently active disease. In this study, we will evaluate prospectively associations between higher uptake of 18F-FDG in artery walls and the development of new arterial lesions in TA. The uptake of 18F-FDG is expressed by the SUV (Standardized Uptake Value) index and TA patients who underwent PET-CT scan with 18F-FDG between 2009 and 2010 have been reassessed annually by magnetic resonance angiography and/or by CT angiography to evaluate the development of new lesions in arteries with higher SUV. Furthermore, we will also evaluate associations between SUV values and ischemic events and disease relapse.