TAKAYASU ARTERITIS - INITIAL AND LONG-TERM FOLLOW-UP IN 16 PATIENTS AFTER PERCUTANEOUS TRANSLUMINAL ANGIOPLASTY OF THE DESCENDING THORACIC AND ABDOMINAL-AORTA

PURPOSE: To analyze results of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty ( PTA) for stenosis of the descending thoracic and/or abdominal aorta ca used by Takayasu arteritis (TA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Subjects were 16 patients (12 female and four male, aged 6-46 years) with symptoms o f hypertension or severe bilateral lower limb claudication. Total aort ography revealed stenotic lesions in the descending thoracic aorta in five, in the abdominal aorta in 10, and in both vessels in one patient . Involvement of arch vessels in four patients and of the renal artery in four patients was also noted. Double-balloon angioplasty was perfo rmed in eight patients. RESULTS: Initial technical and clinical succes s was 100%. The maximum follow-up period was 52 months (mean, 21 month s 2 weeks). Ankle-brachial index as determined with Doppler ultrasound improved considerably in 10 patients. Three patients had symptoms of restenosis during follow-up. Cumulative patency rate by life-table ana lysis was 67%. CONCLUSION: PTA has a definite role in the management o f TA in view of its procedural simplicity, cost-effectiveness, and res ults compared with surgical revascularization procedures.