Imaging In Large Vessel Vasculitis Research Articles

Challenges and perspectives for the treatment of giant cell arteritis

Early diagnosis and prompt initiation of treatment are crucial to avoid severe complications in giant cell arteritis (GCA). The European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR) recommendations for the use of imaging in large vessel vasculitis have helped better define the role of different techniques for diagnosing and monitoring the disease. Regarding the treatment, corticosteroids remain the standard, and tocilizumab is the preferred corticosteroid-sparing treatment. New corticosteroid-sparing treatments and "ultra-light" corticosteroid usage regimens are also under study and could represent valid therapeutic alternatives in the future.

New imaging strategy for large vessel vasculitis (based on the EULAR-2023 recommendations)

Large vessel vasculitis (LVV), including Takayasu's arteritis (AT, or non-specific aortoarteritis) and giant cell arteritis (GCA), is caused by granulomatous inflammation affecting mainly the aorta and its main branches. Damage to the vascular wall leads to ischemia of the corresponding organs and can be complicated by loss of vision, cerebral insufficiency and other life-threatening phenomena. The early diagnosis of these diseases in clinical practice is a difficult task that can only be solved by comparing the clinical symptoms, the results of the physical, laboratory and instrumental examination and the vascular biopsy.A comparative analysis of the 2018 and 2023 EULAR recommendations for imaging in LVV is presented. Duplex ultrasound (USDS) of not only temporal but also axillary arteries is recommended for GCA and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for AT. Alternative methods for GCA are MRI or positron emission tomography (PET) in combination with computed tomography (CT) and intravenous administration of fluorodeoxyglucose labelled with the short-lived fluoride isotope 18 (FDG-PET/CT), and for AT – FDG-PET/CT, CT or ultrasound examination. MRI, CT or ultrasound can be used for long-term monitoring of structural damage, especially to assess pre-existing vascular inflammation.

Role of 18F-FDG PET/CT in Large Vessel Vasculitis and Polymyalgia Rheumatica.

Systemic vasculitides comprise a group of autoimmune diseases affecting blood vessels, including large vessel vasculitis (LVV) and medium-sized vessel vasculitis such as giant cell arteritis (GCA) and Takayasu arteritis (TAK). GCA frequently overlaps with polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR), a rheumatic inflammatory condition affecting bursae, tendons or tendon sheaths, and joints. 18F-FDG PET/CT plays an important role in the diagnostic work-up of GCA, PMR, and TAK and is increasingly used to monitor treatment response. This continuing education article provides up-to-date guidance on the role of 18F-FDG PET/CT in patients with LVV, medium-sized vessel vasculitis, and PMR. It provides a general introduction on the clinical presentation and challenges in the diagnostic work-up of LVV and medium-sized vessel vasculitis, with a focus on the 2 major LVV subtypes: GCA, including PMR, and TAK. Next, practice points to perform and interpret the results of 18F-FDG PET/CT are described in line with the published procedure recommendations. Furthermore, the diagnostic performance and its role for treatment monitoring are discussed, taking into account recent international recommendations for the use of imaging in LVV and medium-sized vessel vasculitis in clinical practice. This is illustrated by several clinically representative PET/CT scan examples. Lastly, knowledge of limitations and pitfalls is essential to understand the role of 18F-FDG PET/CT in LVV, medium-sized vessel vasculitis, and PMR. Challenges and opportunities, as well as future research and conclusions, are highlighted. Learning objectives provide up-to-date guidance for the role of 18F-FDG PET/CT in patients with suspected LVV, medium-sized vessel vasculitis, and PMR.

Influence of the EULAR recommendations for the use of imaging in large vessel vasculitis in the diagnosis of giant cell arteritis: results of the ARTESER register

ObjectiveThe main study objective was to determine how giant cell arteritis (GCA) is diagnosed in our clinical practice and whether the EULAR recommendations have influenced the diagnostic procedures used.MethodsARTEritis of...

Validity of the EULAR recommendations on the use of ultrasound in the diagnosis of giant cell arteritis

ObjectivesThe European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR) recommendations for the use of imaging in large vessel vasculitis establish that an imaging test supported by clinical pretest probability (PTP) is...

Scienced by blinding: ultrasound for giant cell arteritis.

Accurate diagnosis of giant cell arteritis is crucial. Prompt diagnosis can prevent visual loss, but misdiagnosis risks toxicity from unnecessary glucocorticoid treatment. What is the current place of vascular ultrasound in the diagnosis of giant cell arteritis? According to European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR) recommendations, ultrasound is now the first-choice test, 1 Dejaco C Ramiro S Duftner C et al. EULAR recommendations for the use of imaging in large vessel vasculitis in clinical practice. Ann Rheum Dis. 2018; 77: 636-643 Crossref PubMed Scopus (389) Google Scholar whereas the British Society of Rheumatology guideline places ultrasound alongside temporal artery biopsy. 2 Mackie SL Dejaco C Appenzeller S et al. British Society for Rheumatology guideline on diagnosis and treatment of giant cell arteritis. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2020; 59: e1-23 Crossref PubMed Scopus (48) Google Scholar The landmark TABUL study 3 Luqmani R Lee E Singh S et al. The Role of Ultrasound Compared to Biopsy of Temporal Arteries in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Giant Cell Arteritis (TABUL): a diagnostic accuracy and cost-effectiveness study. Health Technol Assess. 2016; 20: 1-238 Crossref PubMed Scopus (209) Google Scholar assessed the role of temporal and axillary artery ultrasound in diagnosis of giant cell arteritis, with the diagnostician masked to the ultrasound result. Diagnosis of giant cell arteritis was made by an experienced clinician and adjudicated by an expert panel, incorporating the temporal artery biopsy result. In TABUL, ultrasound had a sensitivity of 54% and specificity of 81% for a diagnosis of giant cell arteritis, whereas temporal artery biopsy had a sensitivity of 39% and a specificity of 100%, reflecting its disease-defining role. 3 Luqmani R Lee E Singh S et al. The Role of Ultrasound Compared to Biopsy of Temporal Arteries in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Giant Cell Arteritis (TABUL): a diagnostic accuracy and cost-effectiveness study. Health Technol Assess. 2016; 20: 1-238 Crossref PubMed Scopus (209) Google Scholar The low sensitivity of ultrasound in the TABUL study has been attributed to limited sonographer training (requiring ten normal scans and one scan of a so-called hot case) and the limitations of ultrasound machines available during the study period. Subsequent studies have suggested a higher sensitivity for ultrasound for clinical diagnosis, but these studies did not use formal blinding and are therefore potentially biased. 4 Croft AP Thompson N Duddy MJ et al. Cranial ultrasound for the diagnosis of giant cell arteritis. A retrospective cohort study. J R Coll Physicians Edinb. 2015; 45: 268-272 Crossref PubMed Scopus (13) Google Scholar In some centres where temporal artery biopsies are now rarely done, some ultrasound findings are reported to have 100% specificity for giant cell arteritis, 5 Monti S Floris A Ponte C et al. The use of ultrasound to assess giant cell arteritis: review of the current evidence and practical guide for the rheumatologist. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2018; 57: 227-235 Crossref PubMed Google Scholar suggesting that ultrasound might now have become disease-defining in some institutes. Is this shift justified, or is it still premature? Diagnostic accuracy of vascular ultrasound in patients with suspected giant cell arteritis (EUREKA): a prospective, multicentre, non-interventional, cohort studyVascular ultrasound might effectively replace temporal artery biopsy as a first-line diagnostic method in patients suspected of having giant cell arteritis when done by systematically trained ultrasonographers using appropriate equipment and settings. Full-Text PDF

Ревматическая полимиалгия в клинических рекомендациях 2018–2020 гг. Часть II: диагностика васкулита

Совершенствование диагностики ревматических болезней пожилых людей и заболеваний аорты— актуальные задачи медицины. В патогенезе аневризм, расслоений, разрывов аорты важна роль воспаления и структурных изменений ее стенки, которые выявляют с помощью визуализирующих методов. Ведению ревматической полимиалгии, гигантоклеточного артериита, аневризм аорты посвящен ряд международных рекомендаций. С аортитом сопряжено до 40% случаев ревматической полимиалгии. Клиническое подозрение на него основано на выявлении асимметрии артериального давления и пульса, шума аортальной регургитации, сосудистых шумов, персистенции ревматической полимиалгии, воспалительной боли в спине, области таза и нижних конечностях. В 2020 году именно позитронно-эмиссионная томография/компьютерная томография рекомендована Итальянским обществом ревматологов для диагностики васкулита при ревматической полимиалгии во вторичном звене и Европейской федерацией головной боли для диагностики крупнососудистого гигантоклеточного артериита в неврологической практике. Приведен обзор рекомендаций Европейской ассоциации ядерной медицины, Общества ядерной медицины и молекулярной визуализации и Американского общества ядерной кардиологии по применению позитронно-эмиссионной томографии с фтордеоксиглюкозой в сочетании с компьютерной томографией (ангиографией) при васкулитах крупных сосудов и ревматической полимиалгии (2018). Они сопоставлены с клиническими руководствами, другими рекомендациями обществ ядерной медицины и новыми научными данными. Описана процедура исследования и подготовка к нему. Рассмотрены критерии оценки васкулита, предложенные для клинической практики и для клинических исследований, а также факторы, влияющие на результаты теста и их интерпретацию (атеросклероз, диабет, возраст, индекс массы тела, уровни гликемии и маркеров острой фазы). В рекомендациях обоснована польза применения позитронно-эмиссионной томографии и ее сочетания с компьютерной томографией для выявления экстракраниального васкулита и ценность компьютерной томографии-ангиографии на разных стадиях болезни. Требует усиления доказательная база стандарта времени экспозиции фтордеоксиглюкозы и пользы сочетания позитронной эмиссионной томографии с компьютерной томографией-ангиографией, в том числе для выявления рецидивов васкулита и мониторинга терапии. Необходим консенсус по раннему выполнению исследования, стандартизация оценок его результатов, обеспечение реимбурсации, внедрение новых методик визуализации сосудов черепа. В перспективе доказательный подход к ведению васкулита дополнит терагностика.

Magnetic resonance imaging compared to ultrasonography in giant cell arteritis: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundThere has been a shift in recent years to using ultrasound (US) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as first-line investigations for suspected cranial large vessel vasculitis (LVV) and is a new recommendation by the EULAR 2018 guidelines for imaging in LVV. This cross-sectional study compares the performance of US and MRI and contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) for detecting vasculitis in patients with giant cell arteritis (GCA).MethodsPatients with new-onset or already diagnosed GCA were recruited. The common temporal arteries and supra-aortic large vessels were evaluated by US and MRI/MRA. Blinded experts read the images and applied a dichotomous score (vasculitis: yes/no) in each vessel.ResultsThirty-seven patients with giant cell arteritis (GCA) were recruited. Two patients were excluded. Of the remaining patients, nine had new-onset disease and 26 had established disease. Mean age was 71 years, and median C-reactive protein (CRP) was 7.5 mg/L. The median time between US and MRI was 1 day. Overall, US revealed vasculitic changes more frequently than MRI (p < 0.001). US detected vascular changes in 37% of vessels compared to 21% with MRI. Among patients with chronic disease, US detected vascular changes in 23% of vessels compared to 7% with MRI in (p < 0.001). The same was true for patients with new-onset disease. US detected vasculitic changes in 22% of vessels and MRI detected disease in 6% (p = 0.0004). Compared to contrast-enhanced MRA, US was more sensitive in detecting vasculitic changes in the large arteries, including the axillary, carotid, and subclavian arteries.ConclusionUS more frequently detects vasculitic changes in the large arteries compared to contrast-enhanced MRA. When evaluating the cranial vessels, US performs similarly to MRI. This data supports the recommendation that US be considered as a first-line evaluation in patients suspected to have GCA.

Imaging in large-vessel vasculitis

Imaging has recently been acknowledged as at least equivalent to histology for confirming large-vessel vasculitis in the recommendations of scientific societies. Many studies have been recently published on the use of ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT) and fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) in giant cell arteritis and Takayasu arteritis. Ultrasound, MRI and CT show concentric, arterial wall thickening in vasculitis. PET demonstrates enhanced FDG uptake of inflamed artery walls due to increased glucose metabolism. Ultrasound is particularly useful for smaller arteries like the temporal arteries due to its high resolution. MRI and PET/CT provide an excellent overview particularly on extracranial arteries. However, ultrasound can also detect extracranial vasculitis while PET/CT may delineate vasculitis in temporal arteries. The diagnosis needs to be confirmed without delay as the sensitivity of imaging decreases with treatment. Ongoing studies are evaluating the role of imaging for follow-up.

Update Giant Cell Arteriitis

Giant cell arteriitis (GCA) is the most common systemic vasculitis in patients ≥ 50 years. GCA belongs to the group of large vessel vasculitides. Clinical hallmarks of GCA are persistent localized headache, jaw claudication, limb claudication, symptoms of polymyalgia rheumatica, constitutional symptoms and acute visual symptoms. A fast track diagnostic workup and subsequent immediate treatment are crucial to avoid persistent ischemic lesions, particularly blindness. This article reviews the EULAR recommendations for the use of imaging in large vessel vasculitis in clinical practice and the 2018 update of the EULAR recommendations for the management of large vessel vasculitis with a focus on GCA and new data on the value of tocilizimab in the treatment of GCA.

EULAR recommendations for the use of imaging in large vessel vasculitis in clinical practice summary.

Large vessel vasculitis (LVV) is the most common form of primary vasculitis comprising of giant cell arteritis (GCA), Takayasu's arteritis (TAK) and idiopathic aortitis. Early diagnosis and treatment of LVV are paramount to reduce the risk of ischemic complications such as visual loss and strokes, vascular stenosis and occlusion, and aortic aneurysm formation. Use of imaging modalities [ultrasound (US), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT) and [18F]-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (PET)] has steadily increased to enable assessment of cranial and extracranial arteries, as well as the aorta. These imaging modalities are less invasive, more sensitive and readily available compared to temporal artery biopsy (TAB). Modern imaging methods have changed the role of TAB in diagnosing GCA and have replaced diagnostic angiography. Over the last two decades, several studies have evaluated the use of US, MRI, CT and PET in LVV. However, these various imaging tools are not yet uniformly used in routine clinical practice and controversy exists as to which imaging modality best provides meaningful assessments of disease activity and damage in LVV. In January 2018, evidence-based recommendations for the use of imaging modalities in LVV were published. The aim of this review is to summarize the current evidence of imaging in patients with or suspected of having LVV, and to highlight the clinical implications of the EULAR recommendations.

The Role of Vascular Imaging to Advance Clinical Care and Research in Large-Vessel Vasculitis.

The two main forms of large-vessel vasculitis (LVV) are giant cell arteritis (GCA) and Takayasu's arteritis (TAK). Vascular imaging can characterize disease activity and disease extent in LVV. This review critically analyzes the clinical utility of vascular imaging in LVV and highlights how imaging may be incorporated into the management and study of these conditions. There are multiple imaging modalities available to assess LVV including ultrasonography, CT angiography (CTA), magnetic resonance angiography (MRA), and 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET). As these techniques are refined, imaging may be increasingly useful to evaluate the cranial arteries and the aorta and its primary branches. In addition, vascular imaging may be useful to monitor disease activity and may have prognostic value to predict future clinical events. There are strengths and weaknesses associated with vascular imaging that should be considered when evaluating patients with LVV. Vascular imaging will likely play an increasingly important role in the clinical management of patients and the conduct of research in LVV and may ultimately be incorporated as outcome measures in clinical trials in these conditions.

EULAR recommendations for the use of imaging in large vessel vasculitis in clinical practice

To develop evidence-based recommendations for the use of imaging modalities in primary large vessel vasculitis (LVV) including giant cell arteritis (GCA) and Takayasu arteritis (TAK). European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR)...