Carotid and femoral artery stiffness in Takayasu's arteritis. An ultrasound study

To determine the stiffness of large arteries in patients with Takayasu's arteritis (TA). A noninvasive ultrasonic method was used to measure Peterson's elastic modulus (Ep), Young's elastic modulus (YM). and the stiffness constant beta of the common carotid arteries in 13 and of the common femoral arteries in 16 patients with TA and in healthy control subjects. The median carotid artery Ep, YM, and stiffness index beta were statistically significantly higher in patients with TA than in controls (p=0.019, 0.013, and 0.004, respectively). The median femoral artery Ep and YM were also higher in patients with TA than in controls (p=0.005 and 0.039, respectively), and the stiffness constant beta (p=0.127) also tended to be higher in patients with TA relative to healthy persons. Carotid artery compliance is strongly diminished in patients with TA. A comparable but somewhat less conspicuous change is seen in the femoral arteries.