ABSENCE OF CORRELATION BETWEEN CORONARY-THROMBOSIS AND POSTATHERECTOMY RESTENOSIS

Coronary restenosis after percutaneous Transluminal coronary angioplas ty (PTCA) or directional coronary atherectomy (DCA) refers to a condit ion in which the original luminal gain, which follows a successful pro cedure, is permanently lost.(1) From a pathologic point of view, reste nosis is characterized by the occurrence of a homogeneous fibrous cap that is rich in actin-positive smooth muscle cells embedded within a l oose matrix substance.(2) The causes of restenosis are still a matter of debate: several plaque-related (complex geometry, particularly the increased lesion length, and the eccentric narrowing) and systemic fac tors (particularly lipid abnormalities)(3) have been suggested as corr elating with the occurrence of restenosis. A recent angiographic study indicates that angiographically identifiable thrombus at the time of angioplasty procedure is associated with higher restenosis.(4)