Late Restenosis After Paclitaxel-Coated Balloon Angioplasty Occurs in Patients With Drug-Eluting Stent Restenosis

Background: There are currently inadequate data on whether "late restenosis" occurs after paclitaxel-coated balloon (PCB) angioplasty for in-stent restenosis (ISR) lesions.

Objectives: To evaluate the long-term safety and efficacy of PCB angioplasty, we investigated serial clinical and angiographic outcomes after PCB angioplasty for ISR lesions.

Methods: Between September 2008 and December 2012, PCB angioplasty was performed in 468 patients with 550 ISR lesions (bare-metal stent restenosis [BMS-ISR]: 114 lesions, drug-eluting stent restenosis [DES-ISR]: 436 lesions). Two serial angiographic follow-ups were routinely planned for the patients (at 6 and 18 months after the procedure).

Results: Early follow-up (6 months) angiography was performed for 488 lesions (89%), and recurrent restenosis occurred in 13 lesions (13.0%) in the BMS-ISR group and in 82 lesions (21.1%) in the DES-ISR group. Target lesion revascularization was performed for 7 lesions (7.0%) in the BMS-ISR group and 54 lesions (13.9%) in the DES-ISR group. Late follow-up (18 months) angiography was performed for 377 (88%) of the remaining 427 lesions (excluding target lesion revascularization lesions), and late restenosis was found in 2 lesions (2.5%) in the BMS-ISR group and 50 lesions (16.8%) in the DES-ISR group. Delayed late lumen loss was significantly larger in the DES-ISR group. Previous stent size ≤2.5 mm, percentage diameter stenosis after the procedure, and in-stent occlusion lesion were independent predictors of early restenosis. DES-ISR, percentage diameter stenosis at early follow-up, and hemodialysis were independent predictors of late restenosis.

Conclusions: Late restenosis occurs after PCB angioplasty for DES-ISR lesions.