Carotid Artery Neovascularization in Takayasu's and Giant Cell Arteritis
Carotid Artery Neovascularization in Takayasu's and Giant Cell Arteritis
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the ability of contrast enhanced carotid ultrasound
 to serve as an indicator of disease activity in patients with Takayasu's arteritis or Giant
 Cell arteritis and to determine if patients with active arteritis have a thickening of their
 blood vessel walls compared to healthy people of the same age and gender.
Takayasu's arteritis and Giant Cell arteritis are chronic, relapsing diseases of the large
 arteries which can lead to significant narrowing of the arteries through episodes of
 inflammation within the artery walls. The changes in the vessel walls will be determined by
 an ultrasound test looking at and measuring: carotid vessel wall changes called carotid
 Intimal-Media Thickness (cIMT) and the presence of new blood vessels (neovascularization)
 using a contrast agent. Ultrasound findings will be correlated with markers of inflammation
 in the blood, findings from other radiology studies (such as MRI) already ordered as part of
 routine clinical care, and physical exam findings and symptoms of consistent with disease
 activity. 15 arteritis patients and 5 healthy controls will be recruited.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  Male and female patients >18 years

 -  Diagnosis of Takayasu's arteritis or giant cell arteritis

 -  Suspicion of common carotid involvement on the basis of physical examination (cervical
 bruit), carotidynia, documented CCA involvement on an imaging study (MRA, CTA, or
 ultrasound), or documented upper extremity large vessel involvement on an imaging
 study (MRA or CTA or ultrasound).

 -  Ability to provide informed consent

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Prior stroke, carotid surgery or angioplasty

 -  Pregnant (or trying to become pregnant)

 -  Nursing

 -  Known or suspected cardiac shunt

 -  Documented hypersensitivity to the contrast agent

 -  Severe pulmonary hypertension or unstable cardiopulmonary conditions (acute myocardial
 infarction, acute coronary artery syndromes, worsening or unstable congestive heart
 failure, serious ventricular arrhythmias, or respiratory failure)