The Role of 18F-FDG PET/CT in Large-Vessel Vasculitis: Appropriateness of Current Classification Criteria?
Table 1
Definitions for large vessel vasculitis according to the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) 1990 criteria for the classification of giant cell arteritis and Takayasu’s arteritis and the definitions revised by the 2012 International Chapel Hill Consensus Conference on the Nomenclature of Vasculitides (CHCC2012).
ACR 1990 criteria
CHCC2012 definition
Large-vessel vasculitis (LVV)
Vasculitis affecting large arteries more often than other vasculitides Large arteries are the aorta and its major branches
Giant cell arteritis (GCA)
Age at onset of disease ≥ 50 yr New headache Temporal artery abnormality Elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate Abnormal findings on biopsy of temporal artery Diagnosis: at least 3/5 criteria
Arteritis, often granulomatous, usually affecting the aorta and/or its major branches, with a predilection for the branches of the carotid and vertebral arteries Often involves the temporal artery Onset usually in patients older than 50 years and often associated with polymyalgia rheumatica Arteritis, often granulomatous, predominantly affecting the aorta and/or its major branches
Takayasu arteritis (TA)
Age at onset of disease ≤ 40 yr Onset usually in patients younger than 50 years Claudication of an extremity Arteritis, often granulomatous, Decreased brachial artery pulse predominantly affecting the aorta and/or its major Difference in systolic blood pressure between arms branches A bruit over the subclavian arteries or the aorta Arteriographic evidence of narrowing or occlusion of the entire aorta Diagnosis: at least 3/6 criteria
Onset usually in patients younger than 50 years Arteritis, often granulomatous, predominantly affecting the aorta and/or its major branches
