Are We Underdiagnosing Large Vessel Vasculitis?


Subscribe for more episodes: Apple PodcastsSpotify | Stitcher | Google PodcastsRSS feed


Imaging is an important aspect in the diagnosis and monitoring of large vessel vasculitides, including Takayasu and giant cell arteritis. However, traditional imaging modalities have consistently posed setbacks in terms of diagnostic accuracy for these conditions.

Our featured guest on this episode Anisha Dua, MD, gives us a brief insight into the various challenges observed with large vessel vasculitis imaging, particularly temporal artery biopsy, and how the inclusion of modalities such as ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may improve diagnosis in this patient population and our understanding of large vessel vasculitis.

Featured Guest

Anisha Dua, MD, is an associate professor of medicine in the Division of Rheumatology, and the director of the Northwestern Vasculitis Center and the Rheumatology Fellowship Program at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago, Illinois. She completed medical school and a Masters in Public Health at George Washington University, followed by residency and fellowship training in rheumatology at Rush University in Chicago.

Dr Dua currently leads a multidisciplinary team in the clinical management of patients with vasculitis and is expanding the clinical and translational research initiatives in collaboration with the Vasculitis Foundation at Northwestern. She recently assisted in the development of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) guideline for the treatment and management of vasculitis by serving on the literature review team and as leader of the patient panel.

Dr Dua is on the board of directors for the Vasculitis Foundation and a member of the Scientific Advisory Council for the Rheumatology Research Foundation. She has served in leadership capacities both locally and nationally through the ACR, the Vasculitis Foundation, and the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) in areas of education as well as vasculitis.