Three-dimensional velocity mapping of thoracic aorta and supra-aortic arteries in Takayasu arteritis.

Takayasu arteritis is an inflammatory disease of unknown etiology that involves the aorta, its major branches, and the pulmonary artery. We describe three patients with Takayasu arteritis who showed abnormal velocity profile of the thoracic aorta and supra-aortic arteries on time-resolved three-dimensional (3D) phase-contrast MR imaging and velocity mapping techniques. Compared with two comparative subjects, velocity reduction was observed in these arteries. The velocity reduction was prominent along the thickened arterial wall, even with normal luminal caliber, and the highest velocity was observed on the contralateral side. In one patient, the arterial flow velocity and its profile at systole were partly improved after the treatment. The time-resolved 3D velocity mapping visualized the changes in the blood velocity profile at systole in Takayasu arteritis.