Takayasu Arteritis Activity Evaluation by Ultrafast Ultrasound Imaging

The general activity of Takayasu vasculitis is correlated with the perfusion rate of the carotid arterial wall. This can be quantified with ultrafast ultrasound imaging in sensitive Doppler sequence associated with the concomitant injection of microbubbles (SonoVue®). The hypothesis is that the carotid artery wall flow parameters obtained with ultrafast ultrasound imaging make possible to discriminate an active disease from an inactive disease because of the fibrous sequential arterial thickening. Thus, to improve the evaluation of Takayasu vasculitis activity and to refine the criteria for response to the various immunomodulatory treatments used.