Regression of carotid wall thickening after corticosteroid therapy in Takayasu's arteritis evaluated by B-mode ultrasonography: report of 2 cases.
We describe 2 young Japanese female patients with active Takayasu's arteritis whose diagnosis was mainly based on the characteristic ultrasonographic finding, that is, a circumferential vascular wall thickening in common carotid arteries. Following corticosteroid therapy, serial ultrasonographic examination documented the improvement of their thickened carotid walls (in Case 1 from 1.4 to 0.5 mm after 2 months of therapy, in Case 2 from 1.5 to 0.9 mm after 9 months of therapy). These cases emphasize that ultrasonography is useful for evaluation of the therapeutic effect as well as for the diagnosis of Takayasu's arteritis in its early stage.
Fukudome
Y
Y
Second Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
Abe
I
I
Onaka
U
U
Fujii
K
K
Ohya
Y
Y
Fukuhara
M
M
Kaseda
S
S
Esaki
M
M
Fujishima
M
M
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D001027:Aortography; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D013625:Takayasu Arteritis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D014463:Ultrasonography
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones