Immediate and long-term outcome of upper extremity balloon angioplasty in giant cell arteritis.
OBJECTIVE
To review the immediate and long-term results of subclavian, axillary, and brachial artery balloon angioplasty (PTA) in giant cell arteritis (GCA).


METHODS
Four patients (3 men; mean age 65+/-8.9 years) with upper limb claudication due to GCA underwent PTA for 2 stenoses and 1 occlusion of the subclavian artery, 6 stenoses and 2 occlusions of the axillary artery, and 2 stenoses of the brachial artery. Patients received steroids prior to the intervention, and steroid treatment was continued for at least 2 years. All procedures were performed successfully with no residual stenosis. At follow-up after 2 years (n=2), 5 years (n=1), and 10 years (n=1), no significant recurrent stenoses were detected by duplex scanning.


CONCLUSIONS
PTA is a safe and effective therapy for stenotic lesions and occlusions of the upper limb arteries due to GCA. The long-term results seem to benefit from postprocedural therapy with steroids and aspirin.
Amann-Vesti
Beatrice R
BR
Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Angiology, University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland. beatrice.amann@dim.usz.ch
Koppensteiner
Renate
R
Rainoni
Lisa
L
Pfamatter
Thomas
T
Schneider
Ernst
E
D000368:Aged; D000800:Angioplasty, Balloon; D001366:Axillary Artery; D001916:Brachial Artery; D005260:Female; D013700:Giant Cell Arteritis / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013348:Subclavian Artery; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome