PLASMA LIPOPROTEIN(A) IS NOT A PREDICTOR FOR RESTENOSIS AFTER ELECTIVE HIGH-PRESSURE CORONARY STENTING

Background-Lipoprotein(a) is a risk factor for coronary artery disease . Although it has been implicated in restenosis after balloon angiopla sty, its role in restenosis within coronary stents is unknown, The aim of the study was to assess the role of plasma lipoprotein(a) as a pre dictor for restenosis after elective coronary stenting. Methods and Re sults-Elective, high-pressure stenting of de novo lesions in native co ronary arteries with Palmaz-Schatz stents was performed in 325 consecu tive patients. Clinical, angiographic, and biochemical data were analy zed prospectively. Angiographic follow-up was performed at 6 months. L ipoprotein(a) levels were compared in patients with and without resten osis. Angiographic follow-up was obtained in 312 patients (96%); recur rence was observed in 67 patients (21.5%). No clinical or biochemical variable was associated with restenosis, Lipoprotein(a) level was 37.8 1 +/- 49.01 mg/dL (median, 22 mg/dL; range, 3 to 262 mg/dL) in resteno tic patients and 36.95 +/- 40.65 mg/dL (median, 22 mg/dL; range, 0 to 244 mg/dL) in nonrestenotic patients (P=NS), The correlations between percent diameter stenosis, minimum luminal diameter, and late loss at follow-up angiography and basal lipoprotein(a) plasma level after loga rithmic transformation were 0.006, 0.002, and 0.0017, respectively. Mu ltiple stents were associated with a higher incidence of restenosis (P =0.006), but biochemical data in these patients were similar to those treated with single stents, Conclusions-The basal plasma level of lipo protein(a) measured before the procedure is not a predictor for resten osis after elective high-pressure coronary stenting.