Changes of endothelial function in patients with restenosis after percutaneous transluminal coronary stenting and their clinical significance

Objective To investigate the endothelial function in patients with restenosis after percutaneous transluminal coronary stenting and their clinical significance.MethodsFlow- mediated vascular dilation (FMD) and non- flow- mediated vascular dilation (NMD) of brachial artery were measured in 67 patients of coronary artery disease before and after 6 months of percutaheous transluminal coronary artery stenting, and they were also com- pared with those of 18 normal subjects.ResultsBrachial artery flow- mediated vascular dilation (FMD) of the re- senotic and non- restenotic group before stent implantation were significantly lower than that of the normal subjects (2.4±4.2) % and (22.6±6.4)% vs (25.9±5.2)% (P0.05), 16 of 67 cases (23.9%) were found restenosis after 6 months of stent implantation. There was no statistical difference in FMD between restenotic and non- restenotic groups before stent implantation (P 0.05). In the group of restenosis, however, FMD was decreased markedly after 6 months of stent implantation (18.4+3.9)% in comparision with before stent implantation, nevertheless, there was no significant change before and after 6 months of stent implantation in non- restenotic group (22.6±6.4)% and (21.9±6.9)%. Conclusion Endothelium dependent dilation of the group of restenosis was significantly decreased after 6 months of stent implantation. Some measures should be taken to protect and to restore the endothelial function. Non- invasive ultrasonic detection of brachial FMD may be a helpful method to predict restenosis after coronary stent implantation.