Multiple stenting in Takayasu arteritis.
OBJECTIVE
To illustrate the possible peri- and postprocedural complications of stent treatment for Takayasu arteritis and suggest ways of reducing these risks.


METHODS
A 69-year-old woman with Takayasu arteritis had multiple stents implanted in the aortic arch (3 Memotherm) and main branches of the thoracic aorta (individual Corinthian stents in the subclavian and brachiocephalic arteries) following balloon dilation. She suffered reperfusion injury with cerebral hemorrhage following the procedure, preventing the use of anticoagulation or antiplatelet therapy. Further cerebral infarctions/hemorrhages over the ensuing months led to her death.


CONCLUSIONS
Severe vascular disease of any cause confers a poor prognosis. Endovascular stenting may seem an attractive option for management of these patients, but there is often significant morbidity and mortality associated with the underlying disease as well as the stent.
Gradden
Craig
C
Department of Medicine, Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Liverpool, England, UK. farndon@freeuk.com
McWilliams
Richard
R
Gould
Derek
D
Williams
Peter
P
Harris
Peter
P
D000368:Aged; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000601:surgery; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation / Q000009:adverse effects; D002543:Cerebral Hemorrhage / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D015607:Stents / Q000009:adverse effects; D013625:Takayasu Arteritis / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed