Resumen

ALEXANDERSON, Erick et al. Inflammatory activity in Takayasu arteritis. Detection through positron emission tomography (PET). Arch. Cardiol. Méx. [online]. 2005, vol.75, n.1, pp.82-85. ISSN 1665-1731.

Takayasu arteritis (TA) is a chronic disease that affects principally the aorta. Its etiology persists unknown, nevertheless it is well known that predominates in females and initiates primarily in the youth. This disease seems to has two different stages, an early stage that is characterized by an inflammatory process and a later stage characterized by vascular occlusion. Until now, diagnosis and classification of TA are clinically, based on ACR criteria and imaging studies as computed tomography and aorta angiographies. Actually new imaging, non invasive studies as magnetic resonance (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET) are allowed. PET technique could be helpfull in the diagnosis and in the detection of inflammatory activity in patients with TA because its capacity to detect increased metabolism. We present the case of a female patient with TA diagnosis, which demonstrated clinical inflammatory activity and was corroborated by laboratory studies, MRI and PET.

Palabras llave : Takayasu arteritis; PET; Inflammatory activity.