OBJECTIVE: Previous studies have confirmed the poor correlation of symptoms, signs, and levels of acute-phase reactants with disease activity in approximately 50% of all @entity1 with @entity12040 ( @entity12040 ). Invasive angiographic studies demonstrate vessel lumen anatomy, but do not provide qualitative information about the vessel wall. Moreover, sequential invasive angiographic studies expose @entity1 to high-dose ionizing radiation and catheter/procedure-related morbidity. The aim of the present study was to determine the utility of new developments in vascular magnetic resonance (MR) technology in @entity1 with @entity12040 . METHODS: Electrocardiogram-gated " @entity4 -weighted" MR was used to evaluate the aorta and its primary branches with regard to the vascular lumen, vessel wall anatomy, and vessel wall @entity4 in 24 @entity12040 @entity1 (77 studies). Inclusion criteria were age <50 years and features of @entity12040 on both clinical examination and invasive angiographic studies. @entity1 were stratified based on clinical and laboratory indications of having either unequivocally active disease, inactive disease, or uncertain disease status. RESULTS: MR revealed vessel wall @entity4 in 94% (17 of 18), 81% (13 of 16), and 56% (24 of 43) of studies obtained during periods of unequivocally active disease, uncertain disease activity, and apparent clinical remission, respectively. Westergren erythrocyte sedimentation rate and @entity1851 values did not correlate with either the clinical assessment of disease activity or MR evidence of @entity4 . The frequency of presumed @entity32 ( @entity4 ), as assessed by MR, in @entity1 who appeared to be in remission was similar to the reported frequency of new @entity75 and histopathologic evidence of active disease in surgical specimens from @entity1 thought to be in remission. However, the presence of @entity4 within vessel walls did not consistently correlate with the occurrence of new anatomic changes found on subsequent studies. CONCLUSION: Inconsistencies in the presence or absence of vessel @entity4 and subsequent anatomic changes have cast doubt on the utility of @entity4 -weighted MR imaging as a sole guide to disease activity and treatment in @entity12040 . In this study, the greatest utility of MR was in providing a safe, noninvasive means of assessing changes in vascular anatomy.

XXXX : utility and limitations of magnetic resonance imaging in diagnosis and treatment.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['Patients', 'patients'] @entity32 :: ('MESH:D007249', 'Disease') :: ['vascular inflammation'] @entity75 :: ('MESH:D001927', 'Disease') :: ['angiographic lesions'] @entity4 :: ('MESH:D004487', 'Disease') :: ['vascular edema', 'edema'] @entity12040 :: ('MESH:D013625', 'Disease') :: ['TA', 'Takayasu arteritis'] @entity1851 :: ('1401', 'Gene') :: ['C-reactive protein']
@entity12040 :: (MESH:D013625,Disease) :: ['Takayasu arteritis']
