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SP-free survival can be regarded as an end-point for TACE refractoriness. Development of progression or need for three sessions of TACE within the first 6 months could be predictive of TACE refractoriness.

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Objective. The assessment of disease activity in Takayasu arteritis (TA) is difficult in clinical situations because clinical symptoms and laboratory parameters do not always reflect the actual inflammation of the arterial wall. We undertook this study to comprehensively investigate the role of 18 F-fluorodeoxyglucosepositron emission tomography (FDG-PET) in the assessment of disease activity in patients with TA.Methods. We performed a retrospective chart review of 53 FDG-PET scans in 38 patients with TA. We measured 18 F-fluorodeoxyglucose ( 18 F-FDG) accumulation in the vascular wall of the large vessel using semiquantitative (visual grade) and quantitative (standard uptake value intensity) analyses. Clinical disease activity was evaluated based on the National Institutes of Health criteria for active TA, and erythrocyte sedimentation rates (ESRs) and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were measured.