Takayasu arteritis: angiographic findings and results of angioplasty

Takayasu arteritis is a systemic disease characterized by occlusion of the aorta and its branches. We performed coronary angiography and thoracic and abdominal aortography on 47 patients with Takayasu arteritis. Angiographic findings included arterial stenosis, occlusion, or aneurysm. The left subclavian artery was involved in 26 cases (55%), the abdominal aorta in 25 cases (53%), the right renal artery in 21 cases (45%), the right subclavian and left renal arteries in 18 cases (38%), the descending thoracic aorta in 15 cases (32%), and the left common carotid artery in 14 cases (30%). The coronary arteriograms in the 47 patients showed coronary involvement in seven (15%). Proximal or osteal lesions were present in six cases. Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty was performed successfully in eight patients for treatment of three aortic lesions, nine renal artery lesions, one subclavian artery lesion, and one coronary artery lesion. In the three cases with recurrence after 4-7 months, repeated angioplasty was successful. For appropriate management of Takayasu arteritis, we suggest thorough angiographic evaluation and proper intervention, including percutaneous transluminal angioplasty in selected cases for revascularization.