Correlating MRI with clinical evaluation in the assessment of disease activity of Takayasu's arteritis.

OBJECTIVES: To correlate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) assessment of disease activity in patients with Takayasu's arteritis with the Indian Takayasu's activity score (ITAS).

DESIGN, MATERIALS AND METHODS: We prospectively assessed 20 patients with Takayasu's arteritis from November 2010 to September 2011.

RESULTS: We found a statistically significant association between MRI assessment of disease activity and ITAS with a P-value of 0.01. The MRI features suggesting active disease included wall thickening and enhancement. We also analyzed the association between MRI and clinical assessment which was also statistically significant at P = 0.037.

CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that there is an association between MRI assessment of disease activity and the ITAS. MRI evaluation of disease activity of Takayasu's arteritis therefore goes hand in hand with ITAS 2010, ITAS - A, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein. However this needs further investigation from future studies using serial assessments.