Late Restenosis After Both First-Generation and Second-Generation Drug-Eluting Stent Implantations Occurs in Patients With Drug-Eluting Stent Restenosis.

Background: There are currently inadequate data about whether late restenosis occurs after drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation in patients with DES restenosis.

Methods And Results: We collected data for 608 patients who received revascularization for DES restenosis between 2004 and 2012 and analyzed 688 lesions: 359 lesions treated with a first-generation DES (first DES) and 329 lesions treated with a second-generation DES (second DES). Two serial angiographic follow-ups were routinely planned for the patients (at 8 and 20 months after the procedure). Early follow-up angiography was performed for 620 lesions (90.1%), and recurrent restenosis occurred in 84 lesions (25.8%) in the first DES group and in 72 lesions (24.5%) in the second DES group (P=0.78). Target lesion revascularization was performed for 69 lesions (21.2%) in the first DES group and for 48 lesions (16.3%) in the second DES group (P=0.15). Late follow-up angiography was performed for 438 (87.1%) of the remaining 503 lesions (excluding target lesion revascularization lesions), and late restenosis was found in 35 lesions (15.8%) in the first DES group and in 28 lesions (14.7%) in the second DES group (P=0.79). Nonfocal-type restenosis, percentage diameter stenosis after the procedure, previous stent size ≤2.5 mm, and right coronary artery ostial lesion were independent predictors of early restenosis. Nonfocal-type restenosis, percentage diameter stenosis at early follow-up, and stent fracture were independent predictors of late restenosis.

Conclusions: Late restenosis occurs after both first DES implantation and second DES implantation for DES restenosis.