Objectives To update the EULAR recommendations for the use of imaging modalities in primary large vessel vasculitis (LVV).Methods A systematic literature review update was performed to retrieve new... Show moreObjectives To update the EULAR recommendations for the use of imaging modalities in primary large vessel vasculitis (LVV).Methods A systematic literature review update was performed to retrieve new evidence on ultrasound, MRI, CT and [18F]-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) for diagnosis, monitoring and outcome prediction in LVV. The task force consisted of 24 physicians, health professionals and patients from 14 countries. The recommendations were updated based on evidence and expert opinion, iterating until voting indicated consensus. The level of agreement was determined by anonymous votes.Results Three overarching principles and eight recommendations were agreed. Compared to the 2018 version, ultrasound is now recommended as first-line imaging test in all patients with suspected giant cell arteritis, and axillary arteries should be included in the standard examination. As an alternative to ultrasound, cranial and extracranial arteries can be examined by FDG-PET or MRI. For Takayasu arteritis, MRI is the preferred imaging modality; FDG-PET, CT or ultrasound are alternatives. Although imaging is not routinely recommended for follow-up, ultrasound, FDG-PET or MRI may be used for assessing vessel abnormalities in LVV patients with suspected relapse, particularly when laboratory markers of inflammation are unreliable. MR-angiography, CT-angiography or ultrasound may be used for long-term monitoring of structural damage, particularly at sites of preceding vascular inflammation.Conclusions The 2023 EULAR recommendations provide up-to-date guidance for the role of imaging in the diagnosis and assessment of patients with LVV. Show less
Pullen, L.C.E.; Noortman, W.A.; Triemstra, L.; Jongh, C. de; Rademaker, F.J.; Spijkerman, R.; ... ; PLASTIC Study Grp 2023
Aim: To improve identification of peritoneal and distant metastases in locally advanced gastric cancer using [18F]FDG-PET radiomics. Methods: [18F]FDG-PET scans of 206 patients acquired in 16... Show moreAim: To improve identification of peritoneal and distant metastases in locally advanced gastric cancer using [18F]FDG-PET radiomics. Methods: [18F]FDG-PET scans of 206 patients acquired in 16 different Dutch hospitals in the prospective multicentre PLASTIC-study were analysed. Tumours were delineated and 105 radiomic features were extracted. Three classification models were developed to identify peritoneal and distant metastases (incidence: 21%): a model with clinical variables, a model with radiomic features, and a clinicoradiomic model, combining clinical variables and radiomic features. A least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression classifier was trained and evaluated in a 100-times repeated random split, stratified for the presence of peritoneal and distant metastases. To exclude features with high mutual correlations, redundancy filtering of the Pearson correlation matrix was performed (r = 0.9). Model performances were expressed by the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). In addition, subgroup analyses based on Lauren classification were performed. Results: None of the models could identify metastases with low AUCs of 0.59, 0.51, and 0.56, for the clinical, radiomic, and clinicoradiomic model, respectively. Subgroup analysis of intestinal and mixed-type tumours resulted in low AUCs of 0.67 and 0.60 for the clinical and radiomic models, and a moderate AUC of 0.71 in the clinicoradiomic model. Subgroup analysis of diffuse-type tumours did not improve the classification performance. Conclusion: Overall, [18F]FDG-PET-based radiomics did not contribute to the preoperative identification of peritoneal and distant metastases in patients with locally advanced gastric carcinoma. In intestinal and mixed-type tumours, the classification performance of the clinical model slightly improved with the addition of radiomic features, but this slight improvement does not outweigh the laborious radiomic analysis. Show less
Cardiac sympathetic activity plays a key role in supporting cardiac function in both health and disease conditions, and nuclear cardiac imaging has always represented the only way for the non... Show moreCardiac sympathetic activity plays a key role in supporting cardiac function in both health and disease conditions, and nuclear cardiac imaging has always represented the only way for the non-invasive evaluation of the functional integrity of cardiac sympathetic terminals, mainly through the use of radiopharmaceuticals that are analogues of norepinephrine and, in particular, with the use of I-123-mIBG imaging. This technique demonstrates the presence of cardiac sympathetic dysfunction in different cardiac pathologies, linking the severity of sympathetic nervous system impairment to adverse patient's prognosis. This article will outline the state-of-the-art of cardiac I-123-mIBG imaging and define the value and clinical applications in the different fields of cardiovascular diseases. Show less
Objectives We aimed to explore the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cardiac diagnostic testing and practice and to assess its impact in different regions in Europe. Methods The online survey... Show moreObjectives We aimed to explore the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cardiac diagnostic testing and practice and to assess its impact in different regions in Europe. Methods The online survey organised by the International Atomic Energy Agency Division of Human Health collected information on changes in cardiac imaging procedural volumes between March 2019 and March/April 2020. Data were collected from 909 centres in 108 countries. Results Centres in Northern and Southern Europe were more likely to cancel all outpatient activities compared with Western and Eastern Europe. There was a greater reduction in total procedure volumes in Europe compared with the rest of the world in March 2020 (45% vs 41%, p=0.003), with a more marked reduction in Southern Europe (58%), but by April 2020 this was similar in Europe and the rest of the world (69% vs 63%, p=0.261). Regional variations were apparent between imaging modalities, but the largest reductions were in Southern Europe for nearly all modalities. In March 2020, location in Southern Europe was the only independent predictor of the reduction in procedure volume. However, in April 2020, lower gross domestic product and higher COVID-19 deaths were the only independent predictors. Conclusion The first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on care of patients with cardiac disease, with substantial regional variations in Europe. This has potential long-term implications for patients and plans are required to enable the diagnosis of non-COVID-19 conditions during the ongoing pandemic. Show less
Benjamens, S.; Pol, R.A.; Berger, S.P.; Glaudemans, A.W.J.M.; Dibbets-Schneider, P.; Slart, R.H.J.A.; Geus-Oei, L.F. de 2020
Objectives Duration of delayed graft function (DGF) and length of hospital stay (LOS) are outcomes of interest in an era that warrants increased efficacy of transplant care whereas renal allografts... Show moreObjectives Duration of delayed graft function (DGF) and length of hospital stay (LOS) are outcomes of interest in an era that warrants increased efficacy of transplant care whereas renal allografts originate increasingly from marginal donors. While earlier studies investigate the predictive capability of a single renal scintigraphy, this study focuses on the value for both DGF duration and LOS of consecutively performed scintigraphies. Methods From 2011 to 2014, renal transplant recipients referred for a Tc-99m MAG3 renal scintigraphy were included in a single-center retrospective study. Primary endpoints were DGF duration and LOS. Both the first (<= 3 days) and second scintigraphies (3-7 days after transplantation) were analyzed using a 4-grade qualitative scale and quantitative indices (TFS, cTER, MUC10, average upslope). Results We evaluated 200 first and 108 (54%) consecutively performed scintigraphies. The Kaplan-Meier curves for DGF duration and qualitative grading of the first and second scintigraphy showed significant differences between the grades (p < 0.01). The Kaplan-Meier curve for the delta grades between these procedures (lower, equal, or higher grade) did not show significant differences (p = 0.18). Multivariate analysis showed a significant association between the qualitative grades, from the first and second scintigraphy, and DGF duration, HR 1.8 (1.4-2.2, p < 0.01) and 2.8 (1.8-4.3, p < 0.01), respectively. Conclusions Qualitative grades of single renal scintigraphies, performed within 7 days after transplantation, can be used to make a reliable image-guided decision on the need for dialysis and to predict LOS. A consecutive renal scintigraphy, however, did not show an additional value in the assessment of DGF. Show less
Bulten, B.F.; Sollini, M.; Boni, R.; Massri, K.; Geus-Oei, L.F. de; Laarhoven, H.W.M. van; ... ; Erba, P.A. 2019
Cardioprotective effects of erythropoietin (EPO) have been shown in experimental and smaller clinical studies. We performed a prospective, multicentre, randomized trial to assess the effects of a... Show moreCardioprotective effects of erythropoietin (EPO) have been shown in experimental and smaller clinical studies. We performed a prospective, multicentre, randomized trial to assess the effects of a single high dose of EPO after primary coronary intervention (PCI) for an ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Patients with a successful PCI for a first STEMI were randomized to receive either standard medical care alone, or in combination with a single bolus with 60 000IU i.v. of epoetin alfa within 3 h after PCI. Primary endpoint was left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) after 6 weeks, assessed by planar radionuclide ventriculography. Pre-specified secondary endpoints included enzymatic infarct size and major adverse cardiovascular events. A total of 529 patients were enrolled (EPO n = 263, control n = 266). At baseline (before EPO administration), groups were well-matched for all relevant characteristics. After a mean of 6.5 (+/- 2.0) weeks, LVEF was 0.53 (+/- 0.10) in the EPO group and 0.52 (+/- 0.11) in the control group (P = 0.41). Median area under the curve (inter-quartile range) after 72 h for creatinine kinase was 50 136 (28 212-76 664)U/L per 72 h in the EPO group and 53 510 (33 973-90 486)U/L per 72 h in the control group (P = 0.058). More major adverse cardiac events occurred in the control than in the EPO group (19 vs. 8; P = 0.032). A single high dose of EPO after a successful PCI for a STEMI did not improve LVEF after 6 weeks. However, the use of EPO was related to less major adverse cardiovascular events and a favourable clinical safety profile. Clinical Trial Registration Information:NCT00449488;http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00449488?term=voors&rank=2 Show less
