Abstract
We treated 37 lesions in 33 patients with intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis by percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA). These lesions included the internal carotid artery in 12, the middle cerebral artery in 7, the vertebral artery in 13, and the basilar artery in 5. Patients were followed angiographically at 3, 12 and 24 months after PTA. The initial success rate was 81% (30/37), and restenosis was seen in 33% (9/27) 3 months after PTA. Seven of 8 lesions treated by second PTA for restenosis were successfully dilated and restenosis was recognized in 3 lesions. Symptomatic complications occurred in 2 cases: 1 was minor stroke caused by a distal embolism and the other was subarachnoid hemorrhage due to arterial rupture. Asymptomatic dissections were observed in 8 of 46 sessions. The morbidity and mortality rate in this series were 2% and 2%, respectively. Based on our results, we discuss the usefulness and indications of PTA for intracranial artery stenosis.
