INFLUENCE OF CORONARY ANGIOPLASTY ON THE PROGRESSION OF CORONARY ATHEROSCLEROSIS

This study examines the effect of coronary angioplasty on the progress ion and appearance of new disease in sites of the coronary tree that w ere not dilated by the balloon. We examined 355 pairs of coronary angi ograms from 252 patients. The study consecutive patients who were refe rred for catheterization > 1 month after successful angioplasty. Progr ession/regression and the appearance of new narrowings at new sites no t dilated by angioplasty were determined, The life-table method was us ed to determine outcome, and any event (progression, regression, and n ew narrowing) was analyzed according to the time of occurrence. The an gioplasty artery was compared with the non-angioplasty artery and the effect of restenosis was by comparing arteries with and without resten osis. Progression/regression rates were not significantly different in angioplasty and non-angioplasty arteries. More new narrowings were id entified in the angioplasty artery (p < 0.01). With regard to narrowin gs located in the angioplasty artery, progression was more common, reg ression less common, and the appearance of new narrowings more common in arteries arteries or mechanical arteries without restenosis. trauma to tile artery during angioplasty could accelerate disease progressio n and the appearance of new narrowings in angioplasty arteries, wherea s normalization of flow rate and pattern, especially in arteries witho ut restenosis, attenuates the rate of progression and the appearance o f new narrowings in these arteries. The final outcome depends on the b alance between these factors.