title: Increasing echogenicity of diffuse circumferential thickening ("macaroni sign") of the carotid artery wall with decreasing inflammatory activity of Takayasu arteritis.
abstract: We report a case of sonographic follow-up showing brightening of the diffuse circumferential thickening (halo) of the carotid artery wall (the so-called "macaroni sign") in a patient with decreasing inflammatory activity of Takayasu arteritis over a 6-month period. Sonographic follow-up in patients with Takayasu arteritis may be a useful complementary tool for evaluation of inflammatory activity. Besides a reduction of halo diameter, an increase in wall echogenicity appears to be a sign of decreasing inflammation.
authors: Swiss Cardiovascular Center, Division of Angiology, Inselspital, University Hospital and University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
authors: Hong H
authors: HH
authors: Keo
authors: Gion
authors: G
authors: Caliezi
authors: Iris
authors: I
authors: Baumgartner
authors: Nicolas
authors: N
authors: Diehm
authors: Torsten
authors: T
authors: Willenberg
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D017536:Carotid Artery, Common / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D013625:Takayasu Arteritis / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D018616:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D002097:C-Reactive Protein