Well-imaged large vessel vasculitis attributed to anticardiolipin antibody.
OBJECTIVE
We report a case of large vessel vasculitis, compare imaging techniques, and briefly review the literature.


METHODS
Anticardiolipin antibody titers, acute-phase response, and ischemic symptoms in a 50-year-old man admitted for treatment of vasculitis-related ischemia of the fingers were monitored over a 14-month period. Images from serial magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) were compared with images from conventional arteriography in the evaluation of peripheral arterial circulation.


RESULTS
The acute-phase response and anticardiolipin antibody levels were found to vary in parallel with slow resolution of ischemic symptoms following monthly treatment with pulse methylprednisolone and cyclophosphamide.


CONCLUSIONS
Attribution of ischemic symptoms to anticardiolipin antibody is supported by the correlation of anticardiolipin antibody titers, acute-phase response parameters, and ischemic symptoms. The serial images from MRA demonstrate its usefulness as a noninvasive tool for followup studies of both large and medium-sized vessels affected by vasculitis.
Roberts
W N
WN
Medical College of Virginia/Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond.
DeMeo
J H
JH
Breitbach
S A
SA
D000792:Angiography / Q000379:methods; D017153:Antibodies, Anticardiolipin / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014657:Vasculitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000276:immunology*
D017153:Antibodies, Anticardiolipin