4 Clinical Trials for Various Conditions
The term 'aortitis' refers to inflammation of the aorta. Aortitis is known to occur in a variety of vasculitides and connective tissue diseases, such as giant cell arteritis (GCA), Takayasu arteritis (TAK), rheumatoid arthritis, and spondyloarthropathies, among others. This study will establish a longitudinal cohort for these diseases.
The purpose of this study is to collect existing tissue specimens from subjects enrolled in Vasculitis Clinical Research Consortium (VCRC) studies. Analysis of these tissue specimens and linked clinical data collected through VCRC studies may lead to the identification and development of a series of translational research projects. Results of these studies will provide vasculitis researchers with insight into the causes of these diseases and generate new ideas for diagnostic tests and therapies, and will be of great interest to the larger communities of researchers investigating vasculitis and other autoimmune, inflammatory, and vascular diseases.
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the ability of contrast enhanced carotid ultrasound to serve as an indicator of disease activity in patients with Takayasu's arteritis or Giant Cell arteritis and to determine if patients with active arteritis have a thickening of their blood vessel walls compared to healthy people of the same age and gender.
The research study is being conducted to determine the utility of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in identifying inflammation of arteries supplying blood to the head, brain, and eyes. The target population includes patient diagnosed with giant cell arteritis (GCA; temporal arteritis).