[18FDG-PET and large vessel vasculitis: preliminary data on 25 patients]

Area of Science:

• Rheumatology
• Nuclear Medicine
• Diagnostic Imaging

Background:

• Large vessel vasculitis (LVV) diagnosis is challenging due to non-specific symptoms.
• Clinical and laboratory findings often lack definitive predictive value for LVV.
• 18FDG-PET is increasingly used in the diagnostic work-up of suspected LVV.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the predictive value of clinical and biochemical markers against 18FDG-PET in diagnosing LVV.
• To compare diagnostic accuracy of clinical criteria, inflammatory markers, and imaging.

Main Methods:

• Twenty-five patients with suspected LVV underwent 18FDG-PET.
• Patients were stratified by American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria, Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR), C-Reactive Protein (CRP), and prednisone dose.
• Clinical, laboratory, and imaging data were analyzed.

Main Results:

• 18FDG-PET positivity was higher in patients without ACR criteria and with lower inflammation markers, but differences were not statistically significant.
• Scans consistent with LVV were more frequent in patients with high ESR/CRP and clinical criteria.
• A negative correlation was observed between prednisone dose and suggestive LVV scans.

Conclusions:

• Clinical and biochemical features have limited correlation with 18FDG-PET findings in LVV.
• 18FDG-PET is a valuable tool for early LVV diagnosis and treatment monitoring.
• Diagnosis of LVV remains complex, necessitating multimodal diagnostic approaches.