Metal allergic reaction in chronic refractory in-stent restenosis.

Objectives: This study examined the relationship between chronic refractory (CR) in-stent restenosis (ISR) and metal allergic reaction.

Background: Although drug-eluting stent reduced the restenotic event compared with bare-metal stent, the mechanism of neointimal proliferation is not clear yet; however, bare-metal stent still remains as one of the choices.

Methods: Of 128 bare-metal stent implanted patients who experienced target lesion revascularization at least once, 60 patients with the second ISR (study group) and 68 patients without the second ISR (control group) were compared in terms of result from the skin patch test for metal allergic reaction.