Takayasu's arteritis echocardiograhy and ultrasound

Echocardiography may be helpful in the diagnosis of Takayasu’s arteritis and its complications. Findings on an echocardiography suggestive of Takayasu’s arteritis include aortic regurgitation. Doppler ultrasound is a useful non-invasive procedure for the assessment of vessel wall inflammation in patients with Takayasu’s arteritis. Ultrasonography is limited by operator-dependent artefacts from overlying structures and bowel gas. In Takayasu’s arteritis, ultrasound can be helpful in detecting sub-millimeter changes in wall thickness of the carotid arteries.

• Echocardiography may be helpful in the diagnosis of Takayasu’s arteritis and its complications. Findings on an echocardiography suggestive of Takayasu’s arteritis include:
  • Aortic regurgitation

• Ultrasound may be used in the patients with Takayasu’s arteritis to:^[1][2][3][4]
  • Assessment of vessel wall inflammation
  • Detect sub-millimeter changes in wall thickness of the carotid arteries
  • Monitor disease progression
  • Check therapy
  • Detect complications
  • Reduce the need for interval angiographic follow-up
  • Differentiate Takayasu’s arteritis from atherosclerotic disease based on:
    • Minimal plaque content
    • Concentric and long segmental involvement
    • Location of lesion
  • Ultrasonography is limited by operator-dependent artefacts from overlying structures and bowel gas.

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