Long-term follow up of angioplasty for cerebral vasospasm.

Abstract

Cerebral angioplasty has been reported to be useful for the treatment of symptomatic cerebral vasospasm following subarachnoid hemorrhage [3]. Recent data indicates that angioplasty may be effective in preventing the development of vasospasm [7]. However, the long-term effects of cerebral angioplasty on the human cerebral circulation are not known. In the coronary circulation, complications of angioplasty for atherosclerotic disease include restenosis in 30% of vessels, occlusion of the vessel, transient loss of vascular reactivity, and long-term endothelial dysfunction [4]. In atherosclerotic vessels, angioplasty induces vascular injury and initiates intimai hyperplasia, deposition of extracellular matrix, and ultimately results in vessel remodeling. Although no clinical case reports of delayed complications of cerebral angioplasty have been reported, there has also been no assessment of these patients with regard to their intracranial circulation