WELL-IMAGED LARGE VESSEL VASCULITIS ATTRIBUTED TO ANTICARDIOLIPIN ANTIBODY

Objective. We report a case of large vessel vasculitis, compare imagin g techniques, and briefly review the literature. Methods. Anticardioli pin antibody titers, acute-phase response, and ischemic symptoms in a 50-year-old man admitted for treatment of vasculitis-related ischemia of the fingers were monitored over a 14-month period. Images from seri al magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) were compared with images from conventional arteriography in the evaluation of peripheral arterial c irculation. Results. The acute-phase response and anticardiolipin anti body levels were found to vary in parallel with slow resolution of isc hemic symptoms following monthly treatment with pulse methylprednisolo ne and cyclophosphamide. Conclusion. Attribution of ischemic symptoms to anticardiolipin antibody is supported by the correlation of anticar diolipin antibody titers, acute-phase response parameters, and ischemi c symptoms. The serial images from MRA demonstrate its usefulness as a noninvasive tool for followup studies of both large and medium-sized vessels affected by vasculitis.