Significant Predictors Of Restenosis Research Articles

Clinical Utility of Transient Elastography in the Management of Patients with Budd-Chiari Syndrome Undergoing Endovascular Intervention

PurposeTo quantify liver stiffness measurement (LSM) changes after endovascular intervention for Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) and evaluate whether LSM changes predict restenosis after endovascular intervention. Materials and MethodsPatients with BCS who underwent endovascular intervention and had at least 2 LSM values available after the intervention were included. ΔLSM was the difference between LSMs estimated at the last and second last hospital visits. In patients with restenosis, 2 LSM values before restenosis were included. ΔLSM% was calculated as the ratio of ΔLSM to the LSM at the second last visit and expressed as a percentage. Odds ratio (OR) with confidence interval (CI) and area under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUROCs) were calculated for the predictors of restenosis. ResultsThe median baseline and postinterventional 1-week, 3-month, 6-month, and 12-month LSM values were 47.2 kPa (33.8–68.4 kPa), 29.2 kPa (24.5–43.0 kPa), 26.2 kPa (18.6–38.9 kPa), 20.9 kPa (13.3–29.8 kPa), and 17.3 kPa (11.8–25.4 kPa), respectively. Of the 118 patients, including 67 men, restenosis developed in 10 patients after a median (interquartile range) duration of 19 months (11–46 months). ΔLSM% was higher (more positive) in patients with restenosis than in those without restenosis (44.7 [8.3–134.3] vs −6.6 [−19.4 to 14.9], P = .001). ΔLSM% was a significant predictor of restenosis with an OR of 1.032 (95% CI, 1.015–1.050; P < .001). The AUROC for ΔLSM% was 0.831 (95% CI, 0.750–0.893; P = .001), and a ΔLSM% increment of 13.2% predicted restenosis with a sensitivity and specificity of 80.0% and 74.1%, respectively. ConclusionsLSM gradually decreases after endovascular intervention, and transient elastography is a promising test for detecting restenosis after the endovascular treatment of patients with BCS.

Electrical Conductance Device for Stent Sizing.

The minimum stent area (MSA) has been clinically established as a significant predictor of restenosis, thrombosis, and ischemia using intra-vascular ultrasound (IVUS). Unfortunately, IVUS measurements are far from routine because of significant cost of IVUS, the training required, the subjectivity of image interpretation and the time added to the procedure. The objective of this study is to verify the accuracy of a conductance catheter for stent sizing. Here, we introduce an easy and entirely objective device and method for real time determination of MSA. A 10 kHz, 35 μA rms current is passed through the external electrodes of an intravascular catheter while the conductance is measured across a separate set of electrodes. Both phantom and ex vivo validations of metal stent sizing in five porcine carotid arteries were confirmed. The accuracy of the measurements were found to be excellent in phantoms (root mean square, rms, of 3.4% of actual value) and in ex-vivo vessels (rms = 3.2% of measured value). An offset of conductance occurs when a conductive metal stent (e.g., bare metal stent) is deployed in the vessel, while the slope remains the same. This offset is absent in the case of drug eluting stent where the metal is coated (i.e., insulated) or non-metal bioresorbable stent. The present device makes easy, accurate and reproducible measurements of the size of stented blood vessels within 3.2% rms error. This device provides an alternative method to sizing of stent (i.e., MSA) in real-time without subjective interpretation and with less cost than IVUS.

Preoperative CT-scan-based sizing and in-stent restenosis in peripheral endovascular revascularizations.

Objectives This study evaluates the effect of stent sizing with CT-scan on the incidence of restenosis in peripheral arterial disease. Methods This retrospective study included 59 patients with 66 arterial lesions who underwent a endovascular procedure for peripheral arterial disease between April 2013 and October 2013. All patients had de novo iliac or femoral lesions, were candidates for an endovascular procedure alone and underwent CTA preoperatively. The stent actually implanted, whose dimensions were chosen on the basis of the operator's experience on an intraoperative 2D angiography, was compared to the "ideal" stent chosen retrospectively on the basis of precise lesion sizing by the preoperative CTA. Planning was considered "discordant" if there was a difference in length of more than 20 mm and/or a difference in diameter of more than 1 mm between the ideal stent and the actual stent. Results For iliac lesions, discordance essentially concerned stent diameter (36.1%), whereas stent length was the main reason for discordance for femoral lesions (36.7%). The median length of follow-up was 18months (range 6-24). For iliac lesions, freedom from restenosis at 24 months was higher for patients with concordant planning (90% vs. 62.5%, p = 0.045). Most restenoses occurred in the external iliac artery, where there was a tendency towards oversizing of the implanted stent. For femoral lesions, the restenosis-free rate at 24 months was higher for patients with concordant planning (77.8% vs. 50%, p = 0.057). A multivariate analysis was conducted on the prediction of restenosis. Among factors, only discordant planning was found to be a significant predictor of restenosis with an odds ratio of 0.115 (95% confidence interval, 0.02-0.674; p = 0.016). Conclusion The absence of sizing for peripheral lesions engenders a tendency to choose the wrong stent, in particular in terms of diameter in iliac arteries and length in femoral arteries.

Abstract 13892: Incidence and Risk Factors of Restenosis, and Its Impact on Blood Pressure Control After Percutaneous Transluminal Renal Angioplasty in Patients With Renovascular Hypertension

Background: Percutaneous transluminal renal angioplasty (PTRA) is one of the standard treatments for renal artery stenosis (RAS). Restenosis after PTRA may influence disease prognosis, but little is known about its frequency, risk factors, or impact on blood pressure control. Methods: This study included 175 renovascular hypertensive patients (mean age= 59.6 years; 33.7% women; 30.3% fibromuscular dysplasia [FMD]) with 207 treated renal arteries and were followed more than 12 months after PTRA. Data including blood pressure (BP), antihypertensive medication, and duplex ultrasonography (DUS) was collected before and 12 months, and then yearly after PTRA. Cure of hypertension was defines as a BP below 140/90mmHg without antihypertensive medication. Diagnosis of restenosis was based on DUS, by applying a renal aortic ratio &gt;3.5 in conjunction with a renal artery peak systolic velocity &gt; 250cm/s. Results: At 12 months after PTRA, the cumulative incidence of restenosis was 35 (20.0%). We divided the total patients into four groups on the basis of cause of RAS; FMD or atherosclerotic RAS (ARAS), and the absence/presence of restenosis, and found that the decrease in systolic BP (F=3.10, p&lt;0.05) as well as cure of hypertension (F=6.96, p&lt;0.01) were significantly different among the subgroups. Decrease in systolic BP (-31±19 vs -12±25mmHg, p&lt;0.05) as well as cure of hypertension (36.4 vs 5.0%, p&lt;0.01) were significantly greater in FMD patients without restenosis than those with restenosis; whereas no significant difference was found in patients with ARAS. During a median follow-up of 4.0 (IQR, 1.2-8.0) years, 56 patients (32.0%) developed restenosis. In multivariate Cox regression analysis, FMD was an independent predictor of restenosis (hazard ratio [HR] 2.65, p=0.02). We then divided total patients into two groups according to the cause of RAS, and found that statin use (HR 0.50) in FMD, and the presence of previous cardiovascular disease (HR 2.88) as well as severe RAS (≥90%) (HR 3.30) in ARAS were significant predictors of restenosis (p&lt;0.05, respectively). Conclusions: Incidence of restenosis after PTRA was higher in FMD than in ARAS among renovascular hypertensive patients. Assessment of restenosis is important for treatment success, especially for FMD.

A novel predictor of restenosis and adverse cardiac events: asymmetric dimethylarginine

The aim of this study is to investigate if serum asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) levels can predict restenosis and major adverse cardiac events (MACE) in patients who undergo percutaneous coronary interventions. The most important cause of restenosis following percutaneous coronary intervention is neointimal hyperplasia. Nitric oxide (NO) prevents the neointimal hyperplasia growing. Asymmetric dimethylarginine is a competitive inhibitor of NO synthesis. The effect of ADMA on the restenosis has not yet been investigated. A total of 105 (80 male and 25 female) patients were included in our study. All patients underwent elective percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) with bare metal stent implantation or direct stenting for one coronary artery between September 2004 and January 2006. All patients were clinically followed for a period of 6 months, and a control angiography was performed at the end of this period. The probrain natriuretic peptide (pro-BNP), high-sensitivity Creactive protein (hs-CRP), and ADMA levels of the patients were evaluated before the procedure and 6 months afterwards. Biochemical parameters and angiographic features were evaluated in order to determine if they could predict the development of restenosis and MACE by using univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis. The 65 (61.9%) patients (50 males and 15 females) who had not developed restenosis were designated as Group 1. The 27 (25.7%) patients (21 males and 6 females) who had developed restenosis were designated as Group 2. In terms of predicting the development of restenosis, the presence of diabetes mellitus (hazard ratio [HR]: 2.78; confidence interval [CI]: 1.25-6.20; P = 0.01), type of lesion (HR: 1.89; CI: 1.01-3.55; P = 0.04), form of procedure (HR: 0.30; CI: 0.11-0.81; P = 0.01), and ADMA (HR: 4.08; CI: 1.73-9.62; P = 0.001) were found to be significant in univariate Cox regression analysis. In contrast, only the levels of ADMA were found to be a significant predictor of restenosis in the multivariate Cox regression analysis (HR: 3.02; CI: 1.16-7.84; P = 0.02). The restenosis prediction of ADMA levels continued after excluding the patients with diabetes mellitus in the univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis (HR: 5.23; CI: 1.99-13.76; P = 0.001 and HR: 5.61; CI: 1.79-17.62; P = 0.003, respectively). Regarding the development of cardiac events, hs-CRP (HR: 1.03; CI: 1.00-1.06; P = 0.01) and ADMA (HR: 17.1; CI: 3.06-95.8; P = 0.001) were found to be significantly correlated with adverse cardiac events in univariate Cox regression analysis, whereas only ADMA levels were significant in the multivariate Cox regression analysis (HR: 2.83; CI: 1.27-6.31; P = 0.01). The levels of ADMA obtained before the procedure predict the development of restenosis and MACE in patients who underwent elective PTCA and bare metal stent procedures.

In stent restenosis predictors after carotid artery stenting.

Purpose. The long-term efficacy of carotid artery stenting is debated. Predictors of stent restenosis are not fully investigated. Our aim was to assess the incidence of long term restenosis after CAS and to identify some predictors of restenosis. Methods. We retrospectively selected 189 treated patients and we obtained the survival Kaplan-Meier curves for overall survival, for freedom from stroke or death and from restenosis. To correlate clinical, radiological, and procedural variables to stent restenosis, an univariate analysis was performed while to determine independent predictors of restenosis, a multivariate analysis was applied. Results. At 1, 3, and 5 years, the cumulative overall survival rate was 98%, 94%, and 92% with a cumulative primary patency rate of 87%, 82.5%, and 82.5%. The percentage residual stenosis after CAS and multiple stents deployment were independent predictors of restenosis, while diabetes and tumors are suggestive but not significant predictors of restenosis. Conclusions. In our CAS experience, encouraging long-term results seem to derive from both neurological event free rate and restenosis incidence. Adequate recanalization of the treated vessel is important to limit the development of stent restenosis. Multiple stents deployment, and with less evidence, diabetes, or neoplasms has to be considered to facilitate restenosis.

Long-Term Outcome following Stent Reconstruction of the Aortic Bifurcation and the Role of Geometric Determinants

We assessed the long-term patency of kissing stent reconstruction of the aortoiliac bifurcation and identified variables that may influence it. We retrospectively reviewed our experience with stent-reconstruction procedures of the aortoiliac bifurcation from January 1998 through June 2005. The impact of demographic variables, vascular risk factors, disease location and characteristics, stent material and design, and stenting configuration on stent patency was assessed using univariate and multivariate analysis. In particular, we evaluated the effect of geometric mismatch between the protruding segment of the stents and the distal aortic lumen. Sixty-six patients underwent aortobi-iliac stent reconstruction. Indications were bifurcation or bilateral proximal iliac disease in 52 patients and unilateral ostial disease requiring contralateral protection in 14 patients. Limited disease (TASC A and B) was present in 40 limbs in 19 patients; extensive/diffuse disease (TASC C and D) was present in 78 limbs in 47 patients. Complete occlusions were present in 37 limbs in 28 patients (bilateral in nine patients). Self-expanding stents were used in 56 procedures and balloon-expandable stents in 10. Crossing configuration was used in 43 procedures, while abutting configuration was used in 23 procedures. Technical success was achieved in 62 patients (94%), with all four failures due to inability to cross a chronically occluded limb. Three of these patients underwent aortomono-iliac stenting with a crossover femoral-femoral bypass graft, with the remaining one opting for no further interventions. Median combined follow-up was 37 +/- 27 months (range 0-102). Hemodynamically significant restenosis developed in nine patients (14%). The management of restenosis was endovascular in eight patients and was successful in all (balloon dilation in four, restenting in three, thrombolysis and stenting in one) and operative in one patient who developed aortic occlusion and underwent aortobifemoral grafting. Survival table analysis showed primary and assisted patency rates at 4 years of 81% and 94%, respectively. The mortality rate during follow-up was 19 (cardiac cause in eight, pulmonary cause in three, and malignancy in five). Univariate analysis showed radial mismatch (aortic lumen dead space around the protruding segment of the stents), female gender, prior occlusion, and residual stenosis to be significant predictors of restenosis. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed radial mismatch to be the only significant determinant of restenosis, although the statistical power of the model was limited by the small number of restenoses. Stent reconstruction of the aortoiliac bifurcation for occlusive disease is effective and durable, even with complex aortoiliac disease and long segment occlusions. Most restenoses are amenable to endovascular treatment, with excellent long-term assisted patency. Geometric variables related to individual aortic anatomy and disease pattern (patient-dependent) and stenting configuration (operator-dependent) may have an impact on long-term patency.

Results of Carotid Endarterectomy with Pericardial Patch Angioplasty: Rate and Predictors of Restenosis

Routine patch angioplasty after carotid endarterectomy (CEA) is believed to decrease the incidence of recurrent stenosis. The results of autogenous vein, Dacron, and PTFE used as a patch material have been described. Bovine pericardium has more recently been introduced as a patch material. We studied 61 of 73 consecutive patients who underwent isolated CEA with pericardial patch angioplasty to determine the incidence of restenosis and variables associated with restenosis. All patients had intraoperative completion duplex examination performed, and no patient had residual stenosis or anatomic defects at the end of the procedure. All procedures were performed under general anesthesia with the use of a Javid shunt. Mean age was 72.8 +/- 7.8 years, 41% were female, and 62% were asymptomatic. Hypertension was present in 72%, elevated cholesterol in 80%, and history of coronary artery disease in 44%. Recurrent stenosis of >50% was considered to be significant. Our study focuses on 61 of 73 patients who had follow-up duplex ultrasound data available. There were no perioperative neurologic events, reoperations for bleeding, or deaths. Mean duplex follow-up available in 61 patients was 13.1 +/- 5.1 months. Thirty-six patients had 1-15% stenosis, 15 patients had 16-49%, and 10 patients had 50-79%. In the 50-79% group, the mean systolic velocity was 154 +/- 25 cm/sec and the mean end diastolic velocity (EDV) was 36 +/- 16 cm/sec. The highest EDV in the 50-79% group was 56 cm/sec. No patients had stenosis in the 80-99% range. There were no late neurologic events and no late reinterventions. Kaplan-Meier restenosis-free survival at 1 year was 95.6%. Significant univariate predictors of recurrent stenosis of >50% were younger age (68 vs. 74 years, p = 0.04) and presence of preoperative symptomatic disease (35% vs. 5%, p = 0.004). Stepwise multiple logistic regression indicated the most significant predictor of restenosis was the presence of preoperative symptoms (p = 0.008). Stepwise Cox regression analysis also showed preoperative symptomatic status was the only significant factor for restenosis (p = 0.019), with a relative risk of 6.65 and a 95% confidence interval of 1.36-32.4. In conclusion, pericardial patch angioplasty is associated with minimal early adverse events. Restenosis with pericardial patch angioplasty is not uncommon, but high-grade restenosis did not occur in this study. The presence of preoperative symptoms and younger age were the most significant predictors of restenosis.

Treatment of reoccurring instent restenosis following reintervention after stent‐supported renal artery angioplasty

Reoccurrence of restenosis following angioplasty of renal instent restenosis is a considerable drawback of stent-supported angioplasty of renal artery stenosis especially in small vessel diameters. We therefore prospectively studied the long-term outcome of different techniques of endovascular treatment of reoccurrence of instent renal artery restenosis after primarily successful reangioplasty focusing on the impact of covered and drug eluting stents, respectively. The study included 31 consecutive patients (33 lesions) presenting with their at least second instent restenosis following renal artery stenting who were included in a prospective follow-up program (mean follow-up 36+/-25 months, range 1-85). Primary endpoint of the study was the reoccurrence rate of instent stenosis after primarily successful treatment of instent restenosis determined by duplex ultrasound. Primary success rate was 100%, no major complication occurred. Seven lesions were treated with balloon angioplasty (21%, group 1), 7 lesions with stent-in-stent placement (21%, group 2), 6 lesions with placement of a covered stent (18%, group 3), 3 lesions with a cutting balloon (9%, group 4), and 10 lesions with placement of a drug eluting stent (31%, group 5). During follow-up, overall 12 lesions (36%) developed reoccurrence of instent restenosis: n=5 in group 1 (reoccurrence rate 71%), n=3 in group 2 (43%), n=1 in group3 (17%), 3 in group 4 (100%), and n=0 in group 5 (0%). Treatment with a cutting balloon was the only significant predictor of restenosis (hazard ratio 32.3 (95% CI, 3.3-315.0); P<0.001). Treatment of at least second renal artery instent restenosis is feasible and safe. Balloon angioplasty and the implantation of a bare metal stent, a covered stent, or a drug eluting stent seemed to offer favorable long-term patency, whereas cutting balloon angioplasty resulted in a very high rate of restenoses and should therefore be discouraged for this indication.

Clinical and Angiographic Outcomes After Placement of Multiple Overlapping Drug-Eluting Stents in Diffuse Coronary Lesions

Multiple overlapping drug-eluting stents have increasingly been used to treat diffuse coronary disease, but the safety and efficacy of this approach remains unclear. We assayed the clinical and angiographic outcomes after placement of "full metal jacket" stents (stented length >or=60 mm) in 347 consecutive patients (352 lesions) with very long de novo coronary lesions. Mean age was 61.0 +/- 10.1 years, and the mean stented length was 71.9 +/- 13.7 mm. The procedural success rate was 97.7%. Major in-hospital complications (1 death, 2 cases of acute stent thrombosis) occurred in 3 patients (0.7%). Angiographic follow-up data, obtained for 230 (234 lesions) of the 328 eligible patients (70.1%), showed that the restenosis rate was 13.7%. Multivariate analysis found that the reference artery diameter (odds ratio 0.05, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.01 to 0.33, p = 0.002) and the use of Taxus stents (odds ratio 2.88, 95% CI 1.03 to 8.04, p = 0.043) were significant predictors of restenosis. During follow-up (16.6 +/- 6.9 months), 9 deaths (6 cardiac and 3 noncardiac), 1 nonfatal myocardial infarction, and 13 target lesion revascularizations occurred. The cumulative probability of survival without major adverse cardiac events (cardiac death, Q-wave myocardial infarction, and target lesion revascularization) was 95.4 +/- 1.1% and 91.4 +/- 2.1% at 1 and 2 years, respectively. Left ventricular dysfunction (ejection fraction <45%) was the only predictor of stent thrombosis (hazard ratio 18.24, 95% CI 1.65 to 201.19, p = 0.018) and cardiac death/Q-wave myocardial infarction (hazard ratio 5.37, 95% CI 1.28 to 22.49, p = 0.021). In conclusion, full metal jacket drug-eluting stents may be a safe and effective method to treat diffuse coronary disease and may be a useful treatment option for complex long lesions.

The Role of Coagulation and Inflammation After Angioplasty in Patients with Peripheral Arterial Disease

Restenosis remains a frequent complication after angioplasty in peripheral arterial disease. Inflammation plays a critical role in the vascular response to injury. Effective medical treatment to improve patency after angioplasty is still elusive. The aims of this prospective clinical study were to investigate changes in blood coagulation and inflammatory markers after angioplasty and their significance for restenosis. Thirty-four patients with peripheral arterial disease underwent angioplasty of the iliac and superficial femoral arteries. Ten patients undergoing diagnostic angiography were included in the study as controls. Plasma levels of tissue factor, prothrombin fragment 1 + 2, D-dimer, P-selectin, C-reactive protein (CRP), and fibrinogen were analyzed before and after angioplasty. Patients were followed up with angiography after 6 months to assess restenosis. CRP was elevated the day after angioplasty (6.6 mg/l, p = 0.0001) and tended to peak after 1 week (11 mg/l, p = 0.09). There was a significant increase of D-dimer and P-selectin 1-4 hr after angioplasty (0.4 mg/l, p = 0.001 and 68 ng/ml, p = 0.05, respectively). None of the biochemical markers was a statistically significant predictor of restenosis. We have observed a much more prolonged inflammatory response than previously noted, but only minor changes in coagulation activity after angioplasty. The biochemical markers, before and after angioplasty, were not related to restenosis. Further studies are needed to delineate the molecular mechanisms behind these observations and their involvement in thrombosis and restenosis. If these pathways are further defined, improved treatment strategies, including antithrombotic treatments and statins, could be tailored to modulate postprocedural inflammation.

Influence of lesion length on restenosis after coronary stent placement

The length of a coronary lesion is a significant predictor of restenosis after balloon angioplasty. The influence of lesion length has not comprehensively been assessed after coronary stent placement. This study includes 2,736 consecutive patients with coronary stent placement. Only patients with recent or chronic occlusions before the intervention were excluded. Patients were divided in 2 groups: 573 patients with long lesions (≥15 mm) and 2,163 patients with short lesions (<15 mm). There were no significant differences between the groups with respect to the procedural success rate and incidence of subacute thrombosis. One-year event-free survival was lower in patients with long lesions (73.3% vs 80.0%, p = 0.001). Six-month angiography was performed in 82.5% of the eligible patients. The incidence of binary restenosis (≥50% diameter stenosis) was higher in patients with long lesions (36.9% vs 27.9%, p <0.001). Similarly, patients with long lesions presented more late lumen loss than those with short lesions (1.29 ± 0.89 vs 1.07 ± 0.77 mm, p <0.001). Multivariate models for both binary restenosis and late lumen loss demonstrated that lesion length was an independent risk factor for restenosis. The risk was further increased by multiple stent placement and overlapping stents that were also independent risk factors of restenosis. Stented segment length did not show any independent effect. Therefore, long lesions represent an independent risk factor for restenosis after coronary stent placement. The results of this study suggest that a possible way to reduce the risk is to cover the lesion with a minimal number of nonoverlapping stents.

Late clinical and echocardiographic follow up after percutaneous balloon dilatation of the mitral valve.

To assess the outcome after attempted percutaneous balloon dilatation of the mitral valve in patients with severe mitral stenosis between February 1986 and June 1992. Clinical state, mitral valve area, and restenosis at follow up were analysed. Mitral valve area as determined by the Gorlin formula, planimetry, and Doppler methods was compared before and after dilatation and at follow up. University hospital. 176 patients had serial clinical and Doppler echocardiographic follow up and 44 of them also underwent recatheterisation. At follow up 93% of patients were in New York Heart Association functional class I or class II. Mitral valve area (planimetry) increased from 0.97(0.24) cm2 before to 1.86(0.39) cm2 after dilatation (p = 0.0001) and then decreased to 1.72(0.39) cm2 at follow up (p < 0.001); mitral valve area (Doppler) increased from 1.01 (0.24) to 1.89 (0.42) cm2 (p = 0.0001) and then decreased to 1.78(0.40) cm2 (p < 0.05). The overall restenosis rate was 15% and over 90% of the patients were free from cardiovascular events. Age, valvar calcification, echocardiographic score, and mitral valve area after dilatation were found to be determinant predictors of restenosis. In patients who underwent recatheterisation, mitral valve area by the Gorlin method at follow up was comparable with that by planimetry and Doppler methods whereas a significant discrepancy between the three methods was noted immediately after dilatation. Balloon dilatation of the mitral valve provided sustained anatomical and functional improvement in over 80% of patients at late follow up. Older age, heavy calcification, high echocardiographic score, and suboptimal immediate results are significant predictors of restenosis. Doppler echocardiographic examination is the procedure of choice for follow up evaluation.

Risk factors, time course and treatment effect for restenosis after successful percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty of chronic total occlusion

Advances in technology and operator experience, and increased use of angiography early after myocardial infarction have led to greater use of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) for chronic, total coronary artery occlusions. To better assess long-term outcome, 257 consecutive patients with successful PTCA of a total occlusion with late angiographic follow-up from 484 patients (53%) with PTCA success were reviewed. The mean ± standard deviation patient age was 54 ± 10 years, 79% were men, the duration of total occlusion was 11 ± 15 weeks and the post-PTCA diameter stenosis was 24 ± 12%. Eighty-two, 27 and 63% of patients received long-term aspirin, dipyridamole and warfarin therapy, respectively. Angiography at 8 ± 8 months demonstrated restenosis (≥50% diameter stenosis) in 41% of patients restudied within 6 months and in 66% of patients restudied within 12 months by life table analysis. In multivariate regression analysis of 19 variables, 2 were independently correlated with the occurrence of restenosis: post-PTCA diameter stenosis > 30% (p = 0.02) and coronary artery dilated (left anterior descending and right coronary arteries greater than the left circumflex coronary artery) (p = 0.05). In log rank analysis that also considered the timing of angiographic detection of restenosis, dilatation of a proximal left anterior descending stenosis was also a significant predictor of restenosis (p = 0.01), and dilatation within 4 weeks of the presumed time of occlusion was only weakly predictive (p = 0.11). Thirty-five patients (27% of those with restenosis) had reocclusion at the site of PTCA, but only 3 patients (2%) had an associated myocardial infarction. There was no relative beneficial effect of any treatment on the risk of restenosis. Thus, (1) restenosis after PTCA of chronic total occlusion is very common; (2) restenosis is predicted by the angioplasty results and angioplasty site; (3) the clinical detection of restenosis does not appear to plateau at 6 months; (4) reocclusion is not uncommon, but seldom results in myocardial infarction; and (5) there was no apparent relative treatment effect of aspirin, dipyridamole or warfarin.