Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty in nonspecific aortoarteritis (Takayasu's disease): experience of 16 cases.

Sixteen patients with aortoarteritis underwent percutaneous transluminal angioplasty for dilatation of 19 stenotic arteries. Sites included renal arteries (9), subclavian arteries (5), innominate artery (1), abdominal aorta (2), and descending thoracic aorta (2). Angiographic success was obtained in 14 lesions (74%) and partial success in 1 stenosis. The procedure was unsuccessful in 3 renal and 1 subclavian stenoses (21%). There were three complications. Clinically, there was cure of hypertension in three patients and improvement in six patients who had hypertension. Relief of claudication or return of pulsations was observed in seven patients. There was no evidence of any recurrence in the follow-up period (2-33 months). We conclude that percutaneous transluminal angioplasty is a safe and effective procedure for treating symptomatic stenotic lesions in aortoarteritis.