Background: Scarce data exist concerning the long-term effect of percutaneous transluminal renal angioplasty (PTRA) enhanced with intravascular gamma brachytherapy (IVBT) in patients with renovascular hypertension.
Methods: Seventy one patients aged 52 +/- 8 years with refractory renovascular hypertension were randomized to Group I (PTRA + IVBT) or Group II (PTRA). For the IVBT procedure, the PARIS catheter and Microselectron HDR (Nucletron) system was employed. Both baseline and 9-month follow-up quantitative computerized angiography (QCA) and ambulatory blood pressure monitoring analysis was performed to assess luminal parameters of restenosis and the effect of treatment on blood pressure.
Results: Thirty three patients from Group I and 29 patients from Group II underwent successful procedure. During nine months of follow-up, three patients died; including two patients in Group I (cardiac causes) and one patient in Group II (stroke). The follow-up lumen diameter stenosis was 30.6 +/- 13.7% and 40.4 +/- 11% in Groups I and II, respectively (p = 0.004). Late lumen loss in quantitative computerized angiography was 1.2 +/- 0.7 mm and 1.7 +/- 0.7 mm in Groups I and II, respectively (p = 0.004).
Conclusions: Intravascular gamma brachytherapy using self-centering source performed after balloon angioplasty is a safe and effective method of prevention of restenosis after PTRA in patients with renovascular hypertension.