Table 2. Summary of main characteristics and overall risk of bias of studies for outcome prediction of ultrasound in Takayasu arteritis.

Study	Inclusion criteria	Patients (n)With follow-up (n) (%)	Time period follow-up	Investigated structures	US key elementary lesions	Summary of main findings	Overall risk of bias
Ma et al17	Clinical diagnosis of TAK*	7777 (100)	12 months	Carotid	Stenosis, occlusion,↑ IMT, contrast enhancement	Higher IMT at baseline in patients with a progressive disease at 12 months (=more than 20% increase in IMT thickness and lesion range, or aggravations on lumen stenosis or CEUS semi-quantitative analysis)	Moderate
Wang et al21	Clinical diagnosis of TAK	295Not specified	Not specified	Carotid	↑ IMT, stenosis, IMT/diameter ratio (IDR)	A higher carotid IDR and a lower carotid PSV were associated with a higher risk of neurological severe ischaemic events	High

^*1990 ACR criteria.

ACR, American College of Rheumatology; CEUS, contrast-enhanced ultrasound; IMT, intima-media thickness; PSV, peak systolic velocity; SMI, superb microvascular imaging; SUV, standardised uptake value; TAK, Takayasu arteritis.