title: [18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography and serum cytokines and matrix metalloproteinases in the assessment of disease activity in Takayasu's arteritis].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake on positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT)-and serum levels of different cytokines and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in patients with Takayasu's arteritis (TA) and associations with disease activity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-2, IL-6, IL-8, IL-12, IL-18, MMP-3 and MMP-9 were measured in 36 TA patients and 36 controls. Maximum standard uptake value (SUVmax) of 18F-FDG in arterial walls was determined by PET-CT scans. TA patients were classified as active disease, inactive disease and possible active disease.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum IL-6 and MMP-3 levels were higher in TA patients than in controls (p<0.001). Serum IL-6 was higher in patients with active disease and in patients with possible active disease than in inactive disease (p<0.0001). Patients with active disease had higher serum TNFα levels than patients with inactive disease (p=0.049) while patients with possible active disease presented higher IL-18 levels than patients with inactive disease (p=0.046). Patients with active disease had higher SUVmaxvalues than those with inactive disease (p=0.042). By ROC curve SUVmaxwas predictive of active disease in TA and values ≥1.3 were associated with disease activity (p=0.039). Serum TNF-α levels were higher in patients with SUVmax≥1.3 than<1.3 (p=0.045) and controls (p=0.012). Serum IL-6 levels were higher in patients with SUVmax≥1.3 than in controls (p<0.001). No differences regarding other biomarkers were found between TA patients and controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Higher serum IL-6 and TNFα levels as well as higher arterial 18F-FDG uptake are associated with active TA.
authors: Disciplina de Reumatologia, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (Unifesp), São Paulo, SP, Brasil.
authors: Anne E D
authors: AE
authors: Arraes
authors: Disciplina de Reumatologia, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (Unifesp), São Paulo, SP, Brasil.
authors: Alexandre W S
authors: AW
authors: de Souza
authors: Disciplina de Reumatologia, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (Unifesp), São Paulo, SP, Brasil.
authors: Henrique A
authors: HA
authors: Mariz
authors: Disciplina de Reumatologia, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (Unifesp), São Paulo, SP, Brasil.
authors: Neusa P
authors: NP
authors: Silva
authors: Divisão de Radiologia, Hospital A.C. Camargo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil.
authors: Ivone C G
authors: IC
authors: Torres
authors: Divisão de Radiologia, Hospital A.C. Camargo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil.
authors: Paula N V
authors: PN
authors: Pinto
authors: Divisão de Radiologia, Hospital A.C. Camargo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil.
authors: Eduardo N P
authors: EN
authors: Lima
authors: Disciplina de Reumatologia, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (Unifesp), São Paulo, SP, Brasil. Electronic address: eisato@unifesp.br.
authors: Emilia I
authors: EI
authors: Sato
keywords: Arterite de Takayasu; Citocinas; Cytokines; Matrix metalloproteinases; Metaloproteinases da matriz; Positron emission tomography scan; Takayasu's arteritis; Tomografia computadorizada