Scientific Letter: Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty in pediatric patients with Takayasu arteritis: comparison of initial and long- term results of interventions on aorta and non-aortic vessels

Takayasu arteritis (TA) is a chronic inflammatory condition of the aorta and other major vessels that usually results in stenosis, occlusion, dilatation, or the formation of aneurysm. The studies on long-term results of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) in pediatric patients with TA are limited (1-3). Furthermore, there is no study that compared PTA results of large and medium vessels. Herein we report 15 pediatric TA cases treated with PTA for stenotic lesions of the aorta, renal arteries, celiac truncus and superior mesenteric artery. The aim of this study is to compare initial and long- term results of PTA in large- and medium-sized vessel. Between August 1992 and January 2007, 15 pediatric TA cases with significant stenosis (≥60% stenosis of vessel diameter) of the aorta and/or non-aortic vessel involvement were treated with PTA. Fifteen cases (9 girls, 6 boys; age range 2.5 months- 18 years; median age, 12 years) were included.