APPLICATION VALUE OF ULTRASOUND CONTRAST IMAGING IN EVALUATION OF THE ACTIVITY OF TAKAYASU'S ARTERITIS

Objective: To investigate the features of Takayasu's arteritis in ultrasound contrast imaging and their value in detection of lesion activities. Methods: Among 23 patients with Takayasu's arteritis who were diagnosed as Takayasu's arteritis in this hospital between October 2015 and February 2017, we selected a total of 50 lesions, which were divided into two groups, i.e. the activity group and non-activity group. Qualitative and quantitative analyses were carried out using ultrasound contrast imaging to compare the differences in the results of ultrasound contrast imaging and clinical activities between two groups. Results: Between two groups, imaging results, including the ratios of significant, less significant and no enhancement of the thickened wall, showed the differences had statistical significance (x(2) =39.23, p<0.01); meanwhile, increases in the activity group and the non-activity group [(6.66 +/- 2.79) dB vs.. (5.61 +/- 1.71) dB] showed no statistically significant difference (t=1.51, p>0.05); enhancement in the thickened wall of the activity group was significantly higher than that of the non-activity group [(3.06 +/- 2.16) dB vs.(0.07 +/- 0.08) dB], and the difference had statistical significance (t=8.71, p<0.01); with the evident enhancement of contrast agent in thickened wall as the criteria in evaluating the activity, this method had an accuracy of 60%, sensitivity of 50% and specificity of 100%, suggesting that there is no evident enhancement in the contrast agent of thickened wall in 100% of non-active lesions; with no enhancement of contrast agent in thickened wall as the criteria for no activity, this method had an accuracy of 96%, sensitivity of 95% and specificity Of 100%, suggesting that enhancement was identified in the contrast of thickened wall in 95% of active lesions. Conclusion: Ultrasound contrast imaging has a significance in guiding the evaluation of activity of Takayasu's arteritis, and enhancement of contrast agent in thickened wall can serve as an indicator for evaluating the activity of Takayasu's arteritis