Perfil Aterosclerótico da Artéria Carótida como Preditor de Risco para Reestenose após Implante de Stent Coronário / Carotid Artery Atherosclerotic Profile as Risk Predictor for Restenosis After Coronary Stenting

Resumo Fundamento: A incidência de reestenose da artéria coronária após o implante de um stent não farmacológico é mais baixa que na angioplastia com balão; no entanto, ainda apresenta altas taxas. Objetivo: O objetivo deste estudo foi identificar novos indicadores de risco para reestenose de stent usando ultrassonografia das carótidas que, em conjunto com indicadores já existentes, ajudariam na escolha do stent. Métodos: Realizamos um estudo prospectivo transversal incluindo 121 pacientes consecutivos com doença arterial coronariana que foram submetidos à intervenção coronária percutânea com angiografia nos 12 meses anteriores. Após os casos de reestenose de stent serem identificados, os pacientes foram submetidos à ultrassonografia de carótidas para avaliar a espessura da camada íntima média e placas ateroscleróticas. Os dados foram analisados por regressão múltipla de Cox. O nível de significância foi p<0,05. Resultados: A idade mediana dos pacientes foi de 60 anos (1º quartil = 55, 3º quartil = 68), e 64,5% dos pacientes eram do sexo masculino. A angiografia coronária mostrou que 57 pacientes (47,1%) apresentaram reestenose de stent. Cinquenta e cinco pacientes (45,5%) apresentaram placas ateroscleróticas ecolucentes nas artérias carótidas e 54,5% apresentaram placas ecogênicas ou nenhuma placa. Dos pacientes que apresentaram placas ecolucentes, 90,9% apresentaram reestenose do stent coronário, e daqueles com placas ecogênicas ou nenhuma placa, 10,6% apresentaram reestenose de stent. A presença de placas ecolucentes nas artérias carótidas aumentou o risco de reestenose de stent coronário em 8,21 vezes (RR=8,21;IC95%: 3,58-18,82; p<0,001). Conclusões: A presença de placas ateroscleróticas ecolucentes na artéria carótida constitui um preditor de risco de reestenose de stent coronário e deve ser considerada na escolha do tipo de stenta ser usado na angioplastia coronária.

Abstract Background: The incidence of restenosis of the coronary artery after a bare-metal stent implant has been lower than in simple balloon angioplasty; however, it still shows relatively high rates. Objective: The aim of this study was to find new risk indicators for in-stent restenosis using carotid ultrasonography, that, in addition to the already existing indicators, would help in decision-making for stent selection. Methods: We carried out a cross-sectional prospective study including 121 consecutive patients with chronic coronary artery disease who had undergone percutaneous coronary intervention with repeat angiography in the previous 12 months. After all cases of in-stent restenosis were identified, patients underwent carotid ultrasonography to evaluate carotid intima-media thickness and atherosclerosis plaques. The data were analyzed by Cox multiple regression. The significance level was set a p<0.05. Results: Median age of patients was 60 years (1st quartile = 55, 3rd quartile = 68), and 64.5% of patients were male. Coronary angiography showed that 57 patients (47.1%) presented in-stent restenosis. Fifty-five patients (45.5%) had echolucent atherosclerotic plaques in carotid arteries and 54.5% had echogenic plaques or no plaques. Of patients with who had echolucent plaques, 90.9% presented coronary in-stent restenosis. Of those who had echogenic plaques or no plaques, 10.6% presented in-stent restenosis. The presence of echolucent plaques in carotid arteries increased the risk of coronary in-stent restenosis by 8.21 times (RR=8.21; 95%CI: 3.58-18.82; p<0.001). Conclusions: The presence of echolucent atherosclerotic plaques in carotid artery constitutes a risk predictor of coronary instent restenosis and should be considered in the selection of the type of stent to be used in coronary angioplasty.

Impact of free thyroxine levels and other clinical factors on bare metal stent restenosis

ABSTRACT Objective Thyroid hormones have both direct and indirect effects on thermogenesis such as modulating vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation. However, the influence of more subtle changes in thyroid hormones on coronary atherosclerosis remains a matter of speculation. Smooth muscle cells play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of in-stent restenosis (ISR). However, the relationship between free thyroxine (fT4) and ISR has not been studied. In the present study, we aimed to assess the role of preprocedural serum fT4 level on the development of ISR in patients undergoing coronary bare metal stent (BMS) implantation. Materials and methods We enrolled and analyzed clinical, biochemical, and angiographic data from 705 consecutive patients without a history of primary thyroid disease [mean age 60.3 ± 9.3 years, 505 (72%) male]; all patients had undergone BMS implantation and further control coronary angiography owing to stable or unstable angina pectoris. Patients were divided into 3 tertiles based on preprocedural serum fT4 levels. Results ISR was observed in 53 (23%) patients in the lowest tertile, 82 (35%) patients in the second tertile, and 107 (46%) patients in the highest fT4 tertile (p < 0.001). Using multiple logistic regression analysis, five characteristics emerged as independent predictors of ISR: diabetes mellitus, smoking, HDL-cholesterol, stent length, and preprocedural serum fT4 level. In receiver operating characteristics curve analysis, fT4 level > 1.23 mg/dL had 70% sensitivity and 73% specificity (AUC: 0.75, p < 0.001) in predicting ISR. Conclusion Higher preprocedural serum fT4 is a powerful and independent predictor of BMS restenosis in patients with stable and unstable angina pectoris.

Drug-Coated Balloon Treatment of Very Late Stent Thrombosis Due to Complicated Neoatherosclerosis / Tratamento por Balão Farmacológico de Trombose de Stent Muito Tardia Causada por Neoaterosclerose Complicada

Abstract We describe the treatment of a patient presenting with very-late stent thrombosis with the use of a drug-coated balloon. In this patient, optical coherence tomography disclosed that ruptured and complicated neoatherosclerosis was the underlying substrate responsible for the episode of very-late stent thrombosis. The potential use of drug-coated balloons in this unique scenario is discussed.

Resumo Descrevemos o tratamento de um paciente apresentando trombose de stent muito tardia com a utilização de um balão farmacológico. Nesse paciente, a tomografia de coerência ótica revelou que a neoaterosclerose apresentava-se complicada e com ruptura, sendo portanto o substrato subjacente responsável pelo episódio de trombose de stent muito tardia. O uso potencial de balões farmacológicos nesse cenário especial é discutido.

Excessive intrastent plaque volume is the major cause of restenosis after intracoronary bare metal stent implantation: a 3-dimensional intravascular ultrasound and quantitative coronary angiography based study.

Vascular response after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) may differ in different ethnic group. Here we show the impact of peri-stent and intra-stent remodeling on coronary stenotic lesions in a group of Japanese patients. Those lesions were evaluated before, after and during follow up, with 3 dimensional intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) (3-D IVUS) and quantitative coronary angiography (QCA) 30 patients with pre, post and follow up IVUS were enrolled. Quantitative data are presented as the mean +/- SD, and categorical data as frequencies. Binary variables were compared with Mann Whitney's U test. There were 7 cases with restenosis (RS) and 23 cases with no-restenosis (NR). In QCA based evaluation, minimum lumen diameter (1.2 +/- 0.4 mm vs. 2.4 +/- 0.6 mm, p < 0.001) and % diameter stenosis (59.1+/- 16.1 vs. 23.3 +/- 16.1, p < 0.001) were significantly reduced in RS at follow up. Acute gain was similar among both groups (RS; 2.1 +/- 0.6 mm vs. NS; 2.2 +/- 0.7 mm, p = 0.5), however, late loss was significantly increased in RS (2.1 +/- 0.8 vs. 0.8 +/- 0.5, p < 0.001). At 3-D IVUS based follow up, lumen volume index was significantly reduced in RS (3.6 +/- 0.8 mm3/mm vs. 6.9 +/- 0.8 mm3/mm, p < 0.01). There was higher intrastent plaque volume index in RS in comparison to NR (5.4 +/- 1.4 mm3/mm vs. 3.1+/- 1.1 mm3/mm, p < 0.05). Linear regression analysis showed a tendency for a significant inverse correlation between the percentage of delta peristent volume index and the percentage of delta intrastent volume index (R2 = 0.12, p = 0.054). The intrastent plaque growth is the major player in causing restenosis.

Delayed occurrence of restenosis in drug eluting stents: an evidence of delayed healing.

Drug eluting stents have made a significant impact on restenosis. However, there are concerns regarding delayed "catch-up" of restenosis. In this case report we present two such patients with delayed occurrence of restenosis after drug eluting stent implantation.