CLINICAL-APPLICATION OF CAPTOPRIL RENAL SCINTIGRAPHY IN TAKAYASU ARTERITIS

Takayasu's disease (pulseless disease) is an uncommon chronic inflamma tory disease primarily affecting the medium and large arteries, with a strong predilection for the aortic arch and its branches; hence, it s ometimes is referred to as aortic arch syndrome. The etiology is unkno wn, although a systemic immunologic process seems most likely. About h alf the reported cases also revealed involvement of the pulmonary and renal arteries. The involvement is more marked in the origin of the ve ssel than distally. Although it is more common among Orientals, its di stribution is worldwide, without racial boundary. A case is presented in which captopril renal scintigraphy and digital subtraction angiogra phy were used to show renal artery stenosis as the cause of the patien t's hypertension.