Impact of restenosis 10 years after coronary angioplasty

AIMS: The aim of the study was to compare the 10-year follow-up results of patients with or without restenosis following single-vessel percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 313 patients with successful PTCA (> or = 20% reduction in luminal diameter narrowing without acute complications) and a control angiography 6 months after PTCA were included in the study. Events during the follow-up period were defined as death, myocardial infarction, bypass surgery, or repeat PTCA. Statistical evaluation was performed by the Fisher test, logistic regression, and life-table analysis. Restenosis (loss of > 50% of the initial gain and diameter stenosis of 50%) was found in 87 (28%) patients. During follow-up, 11 patients (5%) without restenosis (group A) and 11 (13%) patients with restenosis (group B) died (P < 0.05). In group A, 17 (8%) patients and in group B, 11 (13%) patients suffered myocardial infarction (ns); 17 group A (8%) patients and 25 (29%) group B patients had bypass surgery (P < 0.0001), and 34 (15%) group A patients and 55 (63%) group B patients underwent repeat PTCA (P < 0.0001). Logistic regression analysis identified restenosis as an independent risk factor that increases the risk of death 2.8-fold (P = 0.02), bypass surgery 5.6-fold (P < 0.0001), and repeat PTCA 10-fold (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: We conclude that patients with restenosis had a poorer long-term outcome than patients without restenosis. Although most patients with restenosis underwent repeat PTCA, the survival rate without any serious adverse events was only 59%, compared with 83% in patients without restenosis (P < 0.0001).