18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography and serum cytokines and matrix metalloproteinases in the assessment of disease activity in Takayasu's arteritis

18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography and serum cytokines and matrix metalloproteinases in the assessment of disease activity in Takayasu's arteritis

Advances in Rheumatology, September 2015

27476622

Anne E.D. Arraes, Alexandre W.S. de Souza, Henrique A. Mariz, Neusa P. Silva, Ivone C.G. Torres, Paula N.V. Pinto, Eduardo N.P. Lima, Emilia I. Sato

To evaluate (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose ((18)F-FDG) uptake on positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) and serum levels of different cytokines and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in patients with Takayasu arteritis (TA) and associations with disease activity. Serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-2, IL-6, IL-8, IL-12, IL-18, MMP-3 and MMP-9 were measured in 36 TA patients and 36 controls. Maximum standard uptake value (SUVmax) of (18)F-FDG in arterial walls was determined by PET-CT scans. TA patients were classified as active disease, inactive disease and possible active disease. Serum IL-6 and MMP-3 levels were higher in TA patients than in controls (p<0.001). Serum IL-6 was higher in patients with active disease and in patients with possible active disease than in inactive disease (p<0.0001). Patients with active disease had higher serum TNFα levels than patients with inactive disease (p=0.049) while patients with possible active disease presented higher IL-18 levels than patients with inactive disease (p=0.046). Patients with active disease had higher SUVmax values than those with inactive disease (p=0.042). By receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve SUVmax was predictive of active disease in TA and values ≥1.3 were associated with disease activity (p=0.039). Serum TNF-α levels were higher in patients with SUVmax≥1.3 than <1.3 (p=0.045) and controls (p=0.012). Serum IL-6 levels were higher in patients with SUVmax≥1.3 than in controls (p<0.001). No differences regarding other biomarkers were found between TA patients and controls. Higher serum IL-6 and TNFα levels as well as higher (18)F-FDG uptake in arterial wall are associated with active TA.