Clinical outcomes for sirolimus-eluting stent implantation and vascular brachytherapy for the treatment of in-stent restenosis.

The purpose of this study was to compare the mid-term clinical outcome of sirolimus-eluting stent (SES) implantation and vascular brachytherapy (VBT) for in-stent restenosis (ISR). We assessed the 9-month occurrence of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) in 44 consecutive patients with ISR treated with SES implantation and 43 consecutive patients treated with VBT in the period immediately prior. Baseline clinical and angiographic characteristics of the two groups were similar. During follow-up, three patients (7%) died in the VBT group and none in the SES group. The incidence of myocardial infarction was 2.3% in both groups. Target lesion revascularization was performed in 11.6% of the VBT patients and 16.3% of the SES patients (P = NS). The 9-month MACE-free survival was similar in both groups (79.1% VBT vs. 81.5% SES; P = 0.8 by log rank). The result of this nonrandomized study suggests that sirolimus-eluting stent implantation is at least as effective as vascular brachytherapy in the treatment of in-stent restenosis.     

Comparison of acute and long-term results and underlying mechanisms from sirolimus-eluting stent implantation for the treatment of in-stent restenosis and recurrent in-stent restenosis in patients in whom intracoronary radiation failed as assessed by intravascular ultrasound

In-stent restenosis (ISR), especially after vascular brachytherapy, is a therapeutic challenge. Sirolimus-eluting stent implantation is a promising new option for the treatment of patients with ISR. The efficacy of sirolimus-eluting stent implantation for the treatment of patients with their first episodes of ISR and with recurrent ISR due to the failure of vascular brachytherapy was compared using intravascular ultrasound imaging.     

支架内再狭窄的介入治疗

目的介绍支架内再狭窄的处理经验.方法回顾分析156例支架内再狭窄患者经PTCA或支架植入术治疗的即刻和术后随访结果.支架内再狭窄治疗前后行冠脉造影,并于术后5.7±3.8个月复查冠脉造影.结果 156例支架内再狭窄患者PTCA或支架术治疗均获成功,其中134例(144支血管)行PTCA治疗,占86.7%;22例(22支血管)行再次支架置入术,占13.3%.156例经再次PTCA或支架术治疗后随访平均6个月的再狭窄率为24.3%.40处弥漫性支架内再狭窄经PTCA处理后18处(45%)再次再狭窄,而96处局限性支架内再狭窄中有17处再次再狭窄(18%),弥漫性支架内再狭窄经PTCA治疗后,再次再狭窄率明显高于局限性支架内再狭窄(P<0.01).支架内狭窄严重程度(>75%)也是影响PTCA疗效的主要因素.结论对于大多数支架内再狭窄(70%)采用PTCA治疗安全有效,术后再狭窄率与首次支架置入术相似.     

Long-term angiographic follow-up after successful repeat balloon angioplasty for in-stent restenosis

BACKGROUND: Coronary stent implantation is associated with improved angiographic short-term and mid-term clinical outcome. However, restenosis rate still remains between 20 and 30%. HYPOTHESIS: The purpose of the study, performed as a prospective angiographic follow-up to detect restenosis, was to evaluate the immediate and the 6-month angiographic results of repeat balloon angioplasty for in-stent restenosis. METHODS: From April 1996 to September 1997, 335 stenting procedures performed in 327 patients underwent prospectively 6-month control angiography. Of the 96 lesions that showed in-stent restenosis (> 50% diameter stenosis) (29%), 72 underwent balloon angioplasty. RESULTS: The primary success rate was 100%. Follow-up angiogram at a mean of 6.9 +/- 2.4 months was obtained in 54 patients. Recurrent restenosis was observed in 24 of the 55 stents (44%). Repeat intervention for diffuse and body location in-stent restenosis before repeat intervention was associated with significantly higher rates of recurrent restenosis (p < 0.001 and p < 0.05, respectively). Of the 19 patients who underwent further balloon angioplasty (100% success rate), coronary angiography was performed in 18 (95%) at a mean of 8.2 +/- 2.0 months and showed recurrent restenosis in 12 patients (67%). Further repeat intervention for diffuse and severe in-stent restenosis before the second repeat intervention was associated with significantly higher rates of further recurrent restenosis (p < 0.05 and p < 0.005, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Although balloon angioplasty can be safely, successfully, and repeatedly performed after stent restenosis, it carries a progressively high recurrence of angiographic restenosis rate during repeat 6-month follow-ups. The subgroup of patients with diffuse, severe, and/or body location in-stent restenosis proved to be at higher risk of recurrent restenosis.     

Incidence and predictors of recurrent restenosis following implantation of drug-eluting stents for in-stent restenosis.

OBJECTIVES: We investigated the incidence and predictors of recurrent restenosis after drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation for in-stent restenosis (ISR) in routine clinical practice. BACKGROUND: Although DESs have been increasingly used for treatment of ISR, little is known about the predictors of DES failure. METHODS: We determined the incidence of recurrent restenosis and major adverse cardiac events (MACE) in 224 consecutive patients with 239 lesions treated with sirolimus-eluting (n=217 lesions) or paclitaxel-eluting (n=22 lesions) stents for the first episode of ISR. RESULTS: The procedural success rate was 99.2%, and in-hospital complications did not occur in any patient. Follow-up angiography at 6 months was obtained in 73.7% of patients. Angiographic re-restenosis rate was 12.6%, and target lesion revascularization was required in 7.6% of patients. Of the 22 incidents of re-restenosis, 15 were focal (68.2%), 5 were diffuse (22.7%), and 2 were total (9.1%) restenosis. Univariate analysis showed that lesion length, use of paclitaxel-eluting stent, and number of stents per lesion were significant predictors of re-restenosis. In multivariate analysis, however, lesion length and use of paclitaxel-eluting stent were independent predictors of re-restenosis. During the follow-up (mean, 18.3+/-8.1 months), there were 4 deaths (1 cardiac, 3 noncardiac), but no nonfatal myocardial infarctions (MIs). MACE occurred in 18 patients. The cumulative probability of MACE-free survival was 92.9+/-1.8% at 1 year and 90.5+/-2.4% at 2 years. CONCLUSIONS: DESs are highly effective for treatment of ISR, with recurrent restenosis related to lesion length and type of DES.     

Mechanisms of acute lumen gain and recurrent restenosis after rotational atherectomy of diffuse in-stent restenosis: a quantitative angiographic and intravascular ultrasound study.

OBJECTIVES: This quantitative angiographic and intravascular ultrasound study determined the mechanisms of acute lumen enlargement and recurrent restenosis after rotational atherectomy (RA) with adjunct percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty in the treatment of diffuse in-stent restenosis (ISR). BACKGROUND: In-stent restenosis remains a significant clinical problem for which optimal treatment is under debate. Rotational atherectomy has become an alternative therapeutic approach for the treatment of diffuse ISR based on the concept of "tissue-debulking." METHODS: Rotational atherectomy with adjunct angioplasty of ISR was used in 45 patients with diffuse lesions. Quantitative coronary angiographic (QCA) analysis and sequential intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) measurements were performed in all patients. Forty patients (89%) underwent angiographic six-month follow-up. RESULTS: Rotational atherectomy lead to a decrease in maximal area of stenosis from 80+/-32% before intervention to 54+/-21% after RA (p < 0.0001) as a result of a significant decrease in intimal hyperplasia cross-sectional area (CSA). The minimal lumen diameter after RA remained 15+/-4% smaller than the burr diameter used, indicating acute neointimal recoil. Additional angioplasty led to a further decrease in area of stenosis to 38+/-12% due to a significant increase in stent CSA. At six-month angiographic follow-up, recurrent restenosis rate was 45%. Lesion and stent length, preinterventional diameter stenosis and amount of acute neointimal recoil were associated with a higher rate of recurrent restenosis. CONCLUSIONS: Rotational atherectomy of ISR leads to acute lumen gain by effective plaque removal. Adjunct angioplasty results in additional lumen gain by further stent expansion and tissue extrusion. Stent and lesion length, severity of ISR and acute neointimal recoil are predictors of recurrent restenosis.     

Comparison of sirolimus versus paclitaxel eluting stents for treatment of coronary in-stent restenosis

In patients with in-stent restenosis (ISR) inside bare metal stents, drug-eluting stents reduce the recurrence of restenosis compared with balloon angioplasty. However, few data are available about this therapeutic modality in the case of diffuse restenosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the immediate and mid-term outcome of sirolimus- and paclitaxel-eluting stent implantation in diffuse ISR and determine the predictors of clinical and angiographic restenosis recurrence. A series of 161 consecutive patients with 194 diffuse ISR lesions (>10 mm) treated with drug-eluting stent implantation were evaluated. Major adverse cardiac events were defined as death, myocardial infarction, and the need for target lesion revascularization. During a mean follow-up of 8.2 +/- 3.4 months, the cumulative incidence of major adverse cardiac events was 19% in the SES group and 24% in the PES group (p = 0.56). Angiographic follow-up was performed in 80% of the lesions. The overall restenosis rate was 22% and was not significantly different between lesions treated with sirolimus-eluting (20%) or paclitaxel-eluting (25%, p = 0.55) stents. The incidence of restenosis was higher in diabetics (32%) than in nondiabetics (16%, odds ratio 2.5, 95% confidence interval 1.1 to 5.5, p = 0.02). By multivariate analysis, diabetes was confirmed to be the only independent predictor of recurrent restenosis (odds ratio 3.53, 95% confidence interval 1.39 to 9.02, p = 0.008). In conclusion, drug-eluting stent implantation for diffuse ISR is associated with acceptable clinical and angiographic results. The association of diffuse restenosis and diabetes mellitus is an unfavorable condition leading to a high risk of recurrence.     

Comparison between sirolimus-eluting stents and intracoronary catheter-based beta radiation for the treatment of in-stent restenosis

We report the outcomes of patients who had in-stent restenosis (IRS) that was treated with intravascular brachytherapy (IVBT) or sirolimus-eluting stent (SES) implantation. The benefit of IVBT for treating ISR is well documented. SES implantation decreases first-time ISR and, in preliminary reports, has been used to treat ISR. Fifty consecutive patients who had ISR were treated; the first 25 patients underwent SES implantation and the next 25 patients were treated with IVBT using a beta-Cath System (a 40-mm strontium-90/yttrium-90 source). Quantitative angiographic and intravascular ultrasound follow-up were performed at 5.2 +/- 1.1 and 12.1 +/- 1.2 months; clinical follow-up was performed at 15 months. SES deployment and IVBT were successful in all patients. At 12-month follow-up, 8 patients who underwent IVBT had angiographic recurrence (4 in the stent and 4 at the stent edge); only 1 patient who underwent SES implantation developed recurrent ISR. At 12 months, in-stent late luminal loss was similar between the SES and IVBT groups (0.35 +/- 0.45 vs 0.34 +/- 0.46 mm, p = 0.9); however, in-stent net luminal gain was higher in the SES group than in the IVBT group (1.32 +/- 0.13 vs 0.57 +/- 0.19 mm, p <0.0001), and in-lesion late luminal loss was higher in the IVBT group (0.48 +/- 0.32 vs 0.16 +/- 0.42 mm, p = 0.004). At 12 months, intravascular ultrasound stent volume obstruction was higher after IVBT versus than after SES implantation (38.7% vs 6.7%, p <0.0001). At 15-month clinical follow-up, 64% and 96% (p <0.01) of patients who underwent IVBT and SES implantation, respectively, were free of major adverse cardiac events. In conclusion SES implantation for the treatment of ISR was effective and superior to catheter-based IVBT in preventing recurrent neointimal proliferation and angiographic restenosis at 1-year follow-up.     

Long-term clinical and angiographic outcome of patients with occlusive in-stent restenosis treated with (32P) beta-brachytherapy.

The objective of this study was to determine the safety and efficacy of (32)P beta-brachytherapy in totally occlusive in-stent restenosis (ISR). Patients with occlusive ISR were generally excluded from the randomized clinical trials on intracoronary brachytherapy (utilizing either gamma- or beta-sources) that have shown reductions in restenosis rate and need for revascularization procedures. We analyzed short- and long-term effects of (32)P beta-brachytherapy (20 Gy) in 27 patients (28 lesions) with occlusive ISR and 84 (99 lesions) patients with nonocclusive high-risk ISR. The primary outcome measure was frequency of in-lesion angiographic binary restenosis at 7 months. Secondary endpoints were rates of major adverse cardiac events (MACE), target vessel revascularization (TVR), clinically driven TVR, and target lesion revascularization (TLR). (32)P beta-brachytherapy was feasible and safe and provided similar postprocedural angiographic results in the two clinically comparable groups. However, the 7-month binary restenosis rate was higher in the occlusive group, as were the MACE and late total occlusion rates. Multivariate logistic analysis of the overall population indicated occlusive pattern to be the only independent predictor of angiographic restenosis. In both groups, recurrent lesions most often showed a focal pattern with significant reduction of length. Although safe and effective in high-risk ISR, (32)P brachytherapy at 20 Gy does not appear to be sufficient to avoid long-term restenosis in patients with occlusive lesions. Further studies should determine the most suitable source and dosage of brachytherapy for patients with occlusive ISR.     

Angiographic and clinical outcome for the treatment of in-stent restenosis with sirolimus-eluting stent compared to vascular brachytherapy

Summary Background With the use of coronary stents for the treatment of coronary artery disease, in-stent restenosis became a major clinical problem. In this non-randomized study, we examined the use of stent-based delivery of sirolimus (rapamycin) for the treatment of in-stent restenosis in comparison to intracoronary -brachytherapy, regarding the clinical effectiveness and the angiographic results for the treatment of in-stent restenosis after 6–9 months. Methods and results Between July 2001 and May 2002, 28 patients (65±11 years) with instent restenosis were treated with intracoronary brachytherapy. Consecutively, between May 2002 and April 2003, 28 patients (65±10 years) with in-stent restenosis were treated with the implantation of a sirolimus-eluting stent (SES). Patients with in-stent restenosis treated by implantation of a SES had significantly lower incidence of in-stent restenosis (1/28 (3.6%) vs 10/28 (36%); p=0.007) and insegment restenosis (4/28 (14%) vs 14/28 (50%); p=0.013) compared to patients treated with brachytherapy. Target lesion and target vessel revascularization rate tended to be lower in the SES group (14 vs 25%) but did not yet reach statistical significance. One patient died in the group treated by implantation of a SES eight months after stenting, one patient suffered from myocardial infarction due to a subtotal in-stent restenosis after brachytherapy. Two patients after brachytherapy underwent surgical revascularization due to recurrent in-stent restenosis similar to the patient with in-stent restenosis after SES implantation. Conclusion In this study we show the feasibility and safety of the treatment of in-stent restenosis by implantation of sirolimus-eluting stents and demonstrate a lower incidence of recurrent in-stent restenosis as well as lower late luminal loss compared to treatment by intravascular brachytherapy.

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Late restenosis following placement of a sirolimus eluting stent for in-stent restenosis

Drug eluting stents (DES) are rapidly replacing intravascular brachytherapy for the treatment of bare metal in-stent restenosis (ISR). To date, there are no long-term follow up data supporting this practise. We report symptomatic repeat in-stent restenosis occurring 27 months after sirolimus eluting stent deployment for de novo in-stent restenosis. This case suggests that in a subgroup of patients with ISR, as with brachytherapy, the drug eluting stent may be simply delaying rather than inhibiting the restenotic process.     

Use of Taxus polymer-coated paclitaxel-eluting stents for treatment of in-stent restenosis in real world patients: results of clinical and angiographic follow-up at six months in a single-center registry.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of Taxus paclitaxel-eluting stents in a real world group of unselected patients with coronary in-stent restenosis (ISR) lesions. METHODS: This is a prospective single-center registry of a consecutive series of 94 patients with 104 ISR lesions, without previous brachytherapy, over a period of 1 year. Quantitative coronary angiographic analyses were performed at baseline and at 6-month angiographic follow-up. Clinical follow-up were obtained at 6 months. RESULTS: Pre-intervention mean reference vessel diameter was 2.62 +/- 0.50 mm and mean lesion length was 13.95 +/- 6.78 mm. Baseline ISR patterns were mostly either Type I focal (32.7%) or Type II diffuse intrastent (48.1%). At 6-month angiographic follow-up, the in-stent and in-segment binary restenosis was 3.8% (4/105) and 7.6% (8/105) respectively, and the in-stent and in-segment late loss was 0.30 +/- 0.50 mm and 0.57 +/- 0.54 mm, respectively. Seven of these eight restenosed lesions had a diffuse or proliferative ISR pattern prior to intervention. Lesions that restenosed had longer mean stent length per lesion (37.3 mm vs. 22.5 mm in nonrestenosed group; P = 0.001) and more likely to have had a pattern of total occlusion pre-intervention (25.0% vs. 3.1% in nonrestenosed group; P = 0.046). At 6-month clinical follow-up, the MACE rate was 8.5% and target lesion revascularization rate was 7.4%. There was no death but subacute stent thrombosis occurred in 1 patient (1.1%) at 3 days after intervention. CONCLUSIONS: Paclitaxel-eluting Taxus stent for the treatment of ISR effectively suppresses recurrent neointimal proliferation, and was safe and efficacious at 6-month follow-up.     

Angiographic and clinical outcomes at 8 months of cutting balloon angioplasty and beta-brachytherapy for native vessel in-stent restenosis (BETACUT): results from a stopped randomized controlled trial.

The objective of this study was to assess angiographic and clinical outcomes of cutting balloon (CB) angioplasty and concomitant Sr/Y-90 beta-brachytherapy as a treatment modality for patients with native vessel in-stent restenosis (ISR). Procedural advantages over the standard balloon (SB) have been claimed for the CB. Intracoronary brachytherapy preceded by SB angioplasty is regarded as the treatment of choice in patients with ISR. In an interim analysis of a prospective randomized trial designed for 652 patients, 100 consecutive patients with ISR were assigned to treatment with SB angioplasty (n = 51) or CB angioplasty (n = 49), followed in either case by Sr/Y-90 beta-brachytherapy. Quantitative coronary angiography at baseline, postintervention, and at 8 months was performed by an independent central laboratory. More than 90% of target lesions in the overall patient population were diffuse, with 14% of stents totally occluded. Procedural parameters and immediate angiographic outcomes were essentially the same in either study arm. At 8 months, no statistically significant differences were observed in recurrent angiographic restenosis (SB = 26.1%; CB = 29.5%; P = 0.82), target lesion revascularizations (SB = 13.7%; CB = 8.2%; P = 0.53), and major adverse cardiac events (SB = 15.7%; CB = 8.2%; P = 0.36). In this interim analysis, there was no indication of a beneficial effect of CB use over SB use in terms of angiographic or clinical outcomes at 8-month follow-up. CB angioplasty appears to be as safe and efficacious as SB angioplasty in beta-radiation treatment of patients with predominantly diffuse native vessel ISR. It was decided to discontinue the trial.     

雷帕霉素涂层支架治疗老年人冠心病的疗效及再狭窄的随访分析

目的 观察雷帕霉素涂层冠状动脉Cypher支架治疗老年冠心病患者的临床疗效及再狭窄情况。方法 2002年11月至2005年5月在我院心导管室接受Cypher支架治疗的328例60岁以上的老年冠心病患者，观察术后即刻效果，随访6个月记录心脏性死亡、心肌梗死、再次血管重建事件，并进行冠状动脉造影复查。328例中，ST段抬高的急性心肌梗死66例，非ST段抬高的急性心肌梗死21例，不稳定心绞痛149例，稳定型心绞痛92例。结果 支架植入成功率99．1％（325／328），住院期间无死亡。随访6个月出现急性和亚急性血栓各1例，晚期血栓致心肌梗死2例，心力衰竭死亡1例，进行血管重建术7例。住院其间主要心脏不良事件发生率0．6％（2／328），6个月心脏不良事件发生率3．7％（12／328）。术后6个月84例患者冠状动脉造影复查显示，再狭窄率为8．3％（7／84），支架内为2．4％（2／84），靶病变重建率为5．9％（5／84）。结论 应用Cypher支架治疗老年人冠心病是安全和有效的，主要心脏不良事件发生率低，支架内再狭窄率和靶病变重建率明显低于普通金属支架。     

Comparison of six-month angiographic and three-year outcomes after sirolimus-eluting stent implantation versus brachytherapy for bare metal in-stent restenosis

To evaluate long-term effectiveness of sirolimus-eluting stent (SES) implantation for diffuse bare metal in-stent restenosis (ISR), we compared 6-month angiographic and long-term (3-year) clinical outcomes of SES implantation and intracoronary brachytherapy (ICBT). SES implantation for diffuse ISR was performed in 120 consecutive patients and their results were compared with those from 240 patients treated with beta-radiation with balloons filled with rhenium-188 and mercaptoacetyltriglycine. The radiation dose was 15 or 18 Gy at a depth of 1.0 mm into the vessel wall. The primary end point was 3-year major adverse cardiac events including myocardial infarction, cardiac death, and target lesion revascularization. The 2 groups were similar in baseline clinical and angiographic characteristics. Lesion lengths were 25.1 +/- 14.2 mm in the SES group and 24.5 +/- 10.4 mm in the ICBT group (p = 0.15). In-stent acute gain was greater in the SES group than in the ICBT group (2.23 +/- 0.62 vs 1.91 +/- 0.54 mm, p <0.001). We obtained 6-month angiographic follow-up in 287 patients (79.7%). In-segment angiographic restenoses were 7.4% (7 of 94) in the SES group and 26.4% (51 of 193) in the ICBT group (p <0.05). Two myocardial infarctions (1 in each group) and 5 deaths (4 in SES group, 1 in ICBT group) occurred during 3-year follow-up. At 3 years, survival rates without target lesion revascularization (94.1 +/- 2.2% vs 84.6 +/- 2.3%, p = 0.011) and major adverse cardiac events (92.5 +/- 2.4% vs 84.2 +/- 2.4%, respectively, p = 0.03) were higher in the SES than in the ICBT group. In conclusion, compared with ICBT, SES implantation for diffuse ISR is more effective in decreasing recurrent restenosis and improving long-term outcomes.     

Intracoronary brachytherapy with beta-radiation for the treatment of long diffuse in-stent restenosis

OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy of intracoronary brachytherapy with beta-radiation (Sr/Y) for the treatment of long diffuse in-stent restenosis (ISR). METHODS: As recurrent ISR depends on intimal injury after coronary angioplasty, long in-stent restenotic lesions were defined as lesions with a treatment length >26 mm (lesion length >20 mm plus a treatment margin of 3 mm at each end). Seventy-eight patients with long ISR were treated at our institution with beta-brachytherapy after coronary angioplasty. Patients were irradiated with either an approximate dose of 12 Gy at 1 mm vessel wall depth or with 18 Gy at 1 mm vessel wall depth. Clinical follow-up was available for 69 patients and angiographic follow-up for 65 patients. Late lumen loss (LLL), binary restenosis (stenosis >50%), target lesion revascularization (TLR) and major adverse cardiac events (MACE) were assessed for a follow-up time of 6.6+/-2.2 months. RESULTS: Mean interventional treatment length was 46+/-18 mm. TLR was performed in all 23 patients with binary restenosis (33%). Death of cardiac cause was reported for two patients, one of whom did not undergo TLR. Thus, overall MACE rate was 35%. Recurrent ISR was significantly more frequent in patients with geographic miss. Comparison of the different radiation dose regimens revealed significantly lower LLL in patients irradiated with the higher dose (0.20+/-0.68 mm compared with 0.65+/-0.96 mm, P=0.03). CONCLUSION: Intracoronary brachytherapy with beta-radiation (Sr/Y) is a safe and effective therapeutic option for the reduction of recurrent ISR in long diffuse lesions. We recommend a high-dose irradiation with 18 Gy at 1 mm vessel wall depth.     

Drug-eluting stents versus repeat vascular brachytherapy for patients with recurrent in-stent restenosis after failed intracoronary radiation

Recurrent in-stent restenosis (ISR) following intracoronary radiation therapy (IRT) continues to be a therapeutic challenge. The present study aims to evaluate the clinical outcomes of patients who were treated with drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation versus repeat IRT for recurrent ISR after brachytherapy failure. A cohort of 88 patients who were previously treated with brachytherapy for ISR and presented with angina and recurrence of angiographic restenosis were evaluated for treatment with either DES [sirolimus-eluting stents (SES) or paclitaxel-eluting stents (PES); n = 34] or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and repeat radiation (gamma or beta radiation; n = 54). The two groups had similar baseline clinical and angiographic characteristics. The in-hospital outcomes were similar between both groups. At long-term follow-up of 9.7 +/- 4.1 months for the DES group and 10.3 +/- 3.5 months for the repeat IRT group, there were no deaths or myocardial infarctions (MI). There was a trend toward more target vessel revascularization-major adverse cardiac events (TVR-MACE) in the DES group (p = 0.09). In addition, the patients in the DES group had a significantly lower survival rate compared to those in the repeat IRT group (p = 0.018). For patients who had recurrent ISR following IRT, either DES implantation or repeat radiation is safe and is associated with excellent immediate outcomes. Yet, at long-term follow-up, repeat IRT was associated with less recurrences and need for repeat revascularization when compared to DES implantation. Therefore, repeat IRT should be considered as an option for this difficult patient subset.     

Covered stent for the treatment of recurrent bilateral renal artery in-stent restenosis

The optimal treatment for renal artery in-stent restenosis (ISR) is not well established. Reintervention with different strategies including balloon angioplasty, cutting-balloon angioplasty, additional stenting with bare-metal, drug-eluting or covered stents and brachytherapy are effective in achieving immediate angiographic success. However, recurrent ISR rates are high irrespective of treatment strategy. We present a case describing the use of a covered stent for the treatment of recurrent bilateral renal artery ISR after bare-metal and drug-eluting stent implantation and cutting-balloon angioplasty.     

雷帕霉素洗脱支架治疗支架内再狭窄的临床及冠状动脉造影随访观察

目的评价雷帕霉素洗脱支架(商品名Cypher支架,强生公司产品)治疗支架内再狭窄的疗效及安全性。方法27例支架内再狭窄且有临床缺血症状的患者接受了Cypher支架治疗,其中23例患者的支架内再狭窄为弥漫、复杂病变,有5例同时置入了2个Cypher支架。术后对所有患者进行临床随访及冠状动脉造影复查。结果所有支架均成功置入,无残余狭窄或残余狭窄<10%,未见任何并发症。平均随访时间8.9±2.1(5～14)年,临床随访率96.3%,造影随访率92.6%。随访期间,无一例患者死亡。有1例支架近端边缘节段血管发生了再狭窄导致临床心绞痛复发,2例支架近端边缘节段有轻微的新生内膜增殖,但狭窄程度<25%,其余24例均无明显的晚期管腔丢失。本组支架内平均晚期管腔丢失(0.09±0.02)mm、支架远端边缘节段(0.10±0.03)mm、支架近端边缘节段(0.20±0.06)mm。靶血管血运重建率3.8%。结论Cypher支架治疗支架内再狭窄安全、可行,它能有效防止这类病变的新生内膜增殖和再次再狭窄。