Does repeat percutaneous coronary angioplasty in patients with unstable angina increase the risk of recurrent restenosis and acute complications compared to patients with stable angina?
Repeat angioplasty for restenosis in patients with unstable angina has a high primary success rate but carries a higher risk of acute complications and recurrent angiographic restenosis compared to patients with stable angina.
This study analyses the immediate outcome and the risk of recurrent restenosis in patients who, at the time of repeat coronary angioplasty for a first restenosis, had unstable (n = 50), 19%) or stable (n = 218, 81%) angina. Successful angioplasty was accomplished in 250 (93%) patients, 222 (89%) of whom had follow-up angiography. Mean time from initial to repeat angioplasty was shorter (P = 0.0002) and angiographic evidence of thrombus was commoner (P = 0.0001) in the unstable group. Major complications (coronary artery bypass grafting or myocardial infarction) were more frequent (P < 0.01) in the unstable group (6% vs 0.5%); no procedure-related deaths occurred. The angiographic rate of restenosis was significantly higher in the unstable group (61% vs 43%, P < 0.05). Despite this high rate of recurrent restenosis, most of the patients in both groups were either asymptomatic or had atypical chest pain at follow-up. Repeat coronary angioplasty, in patients with unstable angina, has a high primary success rate but a higher risk of acute complications than in patients with stable angina. The angiographic rate of restenosis was significantly higher in unstable than in stable patients; however, the clinical status of most patients was improved at follow-up.
Bauters et al. (Tue,) studied this question.