Abstract: Objective   To investigate ultrasound examination in the prediction of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) on hyperplastic stenosis in autogenous arteriovenous fistula (AVF).   Methods   A total of 60 patients with AVF stenosis due to intimal hyperplasia and treated with ultrasound-guided PTA in Shanxi Bethune Hospital and Shanxi Second People’s Provincial Hospital were recruited for analyses. They were divided into 3 groups based on the intimal thickness measured by preoperative ultrasonography: mild group (intimal thickness ≥0.5mm and ＜1.0mm), moderate group (intimal thickness≥1.0mm and ≤1.5mm), and severe group (intimal thickness ≥1.5mm). The relationship between intimal thickness and postoperative effect and relapse was evaluated.  Results   Preoperative vascular diameter (F=12.806, P＜0.001), postoperative vascular diameter (F=44.935, P<0.001), previous PTA times (F=11.243, P＜0.001), preoperative vascular inner diameter (F=12.806, P＜0.001), postoperative vascular inner diameter (F=44.935, P＜0.001), preoperative blood flow (F=17.486, P＜0.001), postoperative blood flow (F=37.244, P＜0.001), and relapse time (F=49.434, P＜0.001) were significantly different among the 3 groups. The patency rates after PTA for 6 months in mild group were 100% and 84.6%, higher than those in moderate group (χ2=22.652, P＜0.001) and severe group (χ2=27.754, P＜0.001). Age, previous PTA times and preoperative intimal thickness were independently correlated with the relapse time of postoperative AVF stenosis (β=-0.169, -0.618 and -2.933 respectively; P=0.042, 0.028, and＜0.001 respectively).  Conclusion The age of patients, number of previous PTA and thickness of intima are the independent risk factors for relapse time after PTA.

Key words: Autologous arteriovenous fistula, Color Doppler ultrasound, Intimal hyperplasia, Narrow, Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty