title: Takayasu's arteritis: followed the effects of therapeutic pharmacology by carotid ultrasonography.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The carotid ultrasonography could be used to assess the effects of therapeutic pharmacology in the Takayasu's arteritis (TA).
  
  
  METHODS
  21-year-old female with a pulsatile headache and high blood pressure. There were difference in the blood pressure between arms and a bruit over the carotid and subclavian region. The CT angiography demonstrated arterial wall thickening of nearly the whole aorta and its branches. We diagnosed the patient as having AT. The immunosuppressive therapy was started. The thickening of the left common carotid artery decreased from 2.5 to 1.5 mm.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TA is a large vessel vasculitis characterized by adventitial thickening, cellular infiltration of the tunica media, and intimal hyperplasia leading to marked vessel wall thickening, Ultrasonography is a noninvasive and effective method for evaluating the carotid arteries in patients with this disease and may be a useful method for follow-up of anatomic and hemodynamic changes in response to immunosuppressive therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology and Physiology, Universitary Hospital. Universidad Abierta Interamericana, Faculty of Medicine, Buenos Aires, Argentine.
authors.forename: Gabriel E Pérez
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Baztarrica
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology and Physiology, Universitary Hospital. Universidad Abierta Interamericana, Faculty of Medicine, Buenos Aires, Argentine.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Iglesias
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology and Physiology, Universitary Hospital. Universidad Abierta Interamericana, Faculty of Medicine, Buenos Aires, Argentine.
authors.forename: Tereza Zuñiga
authors.initials: TZ
authors.lastname: Infanta
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Levin
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology and Physiology, Universitary Hospital. Universidad Abierta Interamericana, Faculty of Medicine, Buenos Aires, Argentine.
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Porcile
mesh_terms: D001027:Aortography / Q000379:methods; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D016903:Drug Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013625:Takayasu Arteritis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods; D014463:Ultrasonography; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D011239:Prednisolone