Regression of carotid wall thickening after corticosteroid therapy in Takayasu's arteritis evaluated by B-mode ultrasonography: report of 2 cases.

We describe 2 young Japanese female patients with active Takayasu's arteritis whose diagnosis was mainly based on the characteristic ultrasonographic finding, that is, a circumferential vascular wall thickening in common carotid arteries. Following corticosteroid therapy, serial ultrasonographic examination documented the improvement of their thickened carotid walls (in Case 1 from 1.4 to 0.5 mm after 2 months of therapy, in Case 2 from 1.5 to 0.9 mm after 9 months of therapy). These cases emphasize that ultrasonography is useful for evaluation of the therapeutic effect as well as for the diagnosis of Takayasu's arteritis in its early stage.