Percutaneous transluminal balloon angioplasty of the aorta in patients with aortitis.

Four patients with aortitis and stenotic lesions of the aorta were successfully treated by percutaneous transluminal balloon angioplasty. The peak systolic gradient across the constrictions decreased from 82.5 +/- 35.7 to 37.5 +/- 18.5 mm Hg immediately after dilatation. Repeat angiography in the first three patients performed 2 months later showed a further decrease in the gradient to 13.8 +/- 9.5 mm Hg. There were no complications during or after the procedure, and all the patients have shown remarkable symptomatic relief during the follow-up.