Takayasu's arteritis with collateral circulation from the right coronary artery to intracranial vessels--a case report.

A forty-four-year-old woman with Takayasu's arteritis and involvement of the aortic arch and its main branches complained of precordial pain on effort. Exercise electrocardiograms revealed significant ST segment depression in leads II, III, aVF, and V. Coronary arteriograms demonstrated no stenosis. However, the right coronary arteriogram revealed collateral circulation arising from the sinus node artery to the bilateral vertebral arteries and the left internal carotid artery. The collateral circulation was considered to be an important route of blood flow supply to the brain and, at the same time, a cause of coronary steal syndrome and, consequently, of angina pectoris.