Paper
Background: Few studies have evaluated the persistence of imaging abnormality in LVV patients in clinical remission. Objectives: Aim of our study was to evaluate the persistence of imaging abnormalities in patients with Takayasu (TAK) and large vessel giant cell arteritis (LV-GCA) at during a phase of clinical remission. Methods: 119 patients with LVV (48 TAK and 71 LV-GCA) were studied during a long follow-up period (mean 140.7 + 77.0 months). The patients were evaluated using different types of imaging modalities (ultranosonography (US), CT, MRI, PET-CT). We evaluate the radiological abnomalities at the end of follow-up when the patients were in clinical remission. Imaging were considered abnormal in the presence of thickening, stenosis/occlusions, dilatation by US, CT, MRI or a FDG uptake >0 by PET-CT scan. The presence of imaging arnomalities were compared in TAK vs LV-GCA patient groups during a phase of clinical remission. Clinical remission was defined according to EULAR criteria. Results: 87.4% patients with LVV had persistent imaging abnormalities during the phase of clinical remission. Imaging abnormalities were more frequent in TAK than in LV-GCA patients (46/48 (95.8%) vs 58/71 (81.7) respectively; P=0.023). By US persistent thickening, stenosis/occlusions was more frequent in TAK patients 24/25 (96.0%) than in LV-GCA patiens 19/25 (76.6%)(P=0.042). Using CT and/or MRI the persistence of thickening, stenosis/occlusions was more frequent in TAK patients 43/45 (95.6%) than in LV-GCA patients 20/25 (80.0%) (P=0.038). By PET-CT scan persistent FDG uptake > 0 was more frequent in LV-GCA 37/65 (56.9%) than in TAK patients 15/43 (34.9%) (P=0.025). Conclusion: During a phase of clinical remission we observed a high prevalence of imaging abnormalities in LVV patients. Using US, CT or MRI TAK patients have higher prevalence of persistent lesions while using PET-CT scan imaging alteration were more prevalent in LV-GCA patients. REFERENCES: NIL. Acknowledgements: NIL. Disclosure of Interests: None declared.