Use of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography to monitor tocilizumab effect on vascular inflammation in giant cell arteritis.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

To evaluate the time-dependent effects of tocilizumab on vascular inflammation as measured by 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) in GCA.

Methods

Patients with GCA treated with tocilizumab were selected from a prospective, observational cohort. Patients underwent FDG-PET at the baseline visit prior to initiation of tocilizumab and at subsequent follow-up visits performed at 6-month intervals. All imaging findings were interpreted blinded to clinical data. The PET vascular activity score (PETVAS) was used to quantify arterial FDG uptake. Wilcoxon signed rank test was used to compare change in PETVAS between visits. Linear regression was used to determine change in PETVAS over multiple timepoints.

Results

Twenty-five patients with GC

SUBMITTER: Quinn KA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8633659 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature