Follow-up electron beam CT for the management of early phase Takayasu arteritis

PURPOSE: The purpose of this work was to assess typical findings of Takayasu arteritis on serial CT examinations following therapy.

METHOD: Serial CT studies were performed on 16 patients with early phase Takayasu arteritis. Mural or luminal changes of the aorta on successive CT scans were compared with clinical data.

RESULTS: Vascular lesions progressed during follow-up in 6 of 16 patients. In one patient, progression of lesions was symptomatic. In the other five of six patients with worsening lesions, vascular progression occurred without new clinical symptoms and was first identified on CT scans. One of these five had dilatation of the ascending aorta and required aortic repair. Four others had progression of stenotic vascular lesions leading to changes in medical treatment only or in combination with either surgery or angioplasty. For two of them, CT examinations showed decreased mural lesions after changes in medical treatment.

CONCLUSION: CT examinations performed in treated patients with Takayasu arteritis demonstrate either regression, stabilization, or progression of vascular lesions. Serial CT examinations may thus be useful for evaluating response to treatment.