Simple balloon dilation for drug-eluting in-stent restenosis: an optical coherent tomography analysis.

Background: Although drug-eluting stent (DES) has significantly reduced restenosis, the treatment of DES-in-stent restenosis (ISR) remains a challenge with high restenosis rate.

Methods: We examined whether morphologic appearance of restenosis tissue by optical coherent tomography (OCT) had an impact on outcomes after balloon angioplasty for DES-ISR. The morphologic appearance of restenosis tissue was qualitatively assessed for tissue structures such as homogeneous, layered, and heterogeneous patterns.

Results: Using OCT, 50 patients with DES-ISR were divided into 2 groups: 25 lesions with homogeneous or layered patterns (homo/layered group) and 25 lesions with heterogeneous patterns (hetero group). Acute gain was larger in the hetero group (1.33 ± 0.41 mm vs. 1.06 ± 0.32 mm in the homo/layered group, P = 0.03). On intravascular ultrasound analysis, post-procedural percent neointimal area was smaller in the hetero group (27.4 ± 9.2% vs. 34.0 ± 11.2% in the homo/layered group, P = 0.05). Angiographic follow-up was performed in 37 lesions (74%). Follow-up minimal lumen diameter was larger in the hetero group (1.75 ± 0.89 mm vs. 1.01 ± 0.81 mm in the homo/layered group, P = 0.04). Target lesion revascularization rates tended to be lower in the hetero group (20% vs. 43% in the homo/layered group, P = 0.12).

Conclusions: Balloon angioplasty was more effective for DES-ISR with heterogeneous tissue appearance than DES-ISR with homogeneous/layered tissue appearance. OCT assessment of DES-ISR morphology may be a useful adjunct in determining clinical strategies. Simple balloon dilatation is a possible treatment strategy for DES-ISR lesions with a heterogeneous appearance on OCT images.