title: Detecting disease extent and activity of Takayasu arteritis using whole-body magnetic resonance angiography and vessel wall imaging as a 1-stop solution.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to assess vessel involvement and activity of Takayasu arteritis (TA) with whole-body magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) and vessel wall imaging.
  
  
  METHODS
  Whole-body MRA was performed in 42 patients with TA. In 23 of them, precontrast and postcontrast high-resolution vessel wall imagings were acquired. Three of 23 patients had follow-up imaging after medical treatment. According to TA activity criteria, these 26 vessel wall imagings were clinically divided into 2 groups: active (n = 18) and remissive group (n = 8). Vessel wall thickness and postcontrast signal intensity of vessel wall relative to adjacent muscle were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Whole-body MRA yielded a diagnostic image of systemic and pulmonary artery. For vessel wall imaging, wall thickness of the active group (6.12 ± 1.1 mm) was thicker than that of the remissive group (4.31 ± 0.98 mm; P < 0.05). Postcontrast signal intensity ratio was significantly different between 2 groups (active vs remissive, 1.56 ± 0.40 vs 1.17 ± 0.21, P < 0.05). Based on the abnormalities revealed by combined whole-body MRA and vessel wall imaging, Lupi-Herrera's classification was modified in 8 of 23 patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Whole-body MRA combined with vessel wall imaging had the potential for a comprehensive evaluation of disease extent and activity of TA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Shanghai Zhongshan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College of Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jiang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Fuhua
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Yan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013625:Takayasu Arteritis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D051598:Whole Body Imaging
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media