Long-term clinical and ultrasound follow-up after transient perivascular inflammation of the carotid artery (TIPIC) syndrome: a multicenter study

Abstract

Background The present study aimed to describe the clinical and ultrasound (US) long-term follow-up of patients with transient perivascular inflammation of the carotid artery (TIPIC) syndrome and the risk of recurrence. Methods We enrolled patients with a definitive diagnosis of TIPIC syndrome who were included in a retrospective multicenter study. These patients were recontacted at least six months after the first TIPIC episode for a clinical and imaging follow-up. Each patient underwent a clinical evaluation through a tailored questionnaire as well as US imaging. Results Twenty-eight patients were enrolled with a median follow-up of 58.7 months (interquartile range = 8–121). Nineteen out of the 28 patients (67.8%) had residual pain, eight (28.6%) had experienced a clinical recurrence and 12 (42.9%) had a thickening of the carotid wall on US. No patients had neurological complication or other associated diseases. Conclusions Patients with TIPIC syndrome have often residual pain and recurrence in about one quarter of cases but the long-term follow-up is in favor a benign self-limited pathology. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov (identifier NCT03804112)