Background: In-stent restenosis has become a significant problem for interv
entional cardiologists. Due to different pathogenic causes it remains uncle
ar whether a uniform therapeutic regimen is appropriate.
Treatment: Redilatation has predominantly been used for the treatment of in
stent restenosis, however, in long and diffuse restenotic stents, long-ter
m results are reported to be poor. Therefore, tissue-debulking techniques m
ay have beneficial effects in complex cases of in-stent restenosis. The the
rapeutic benefit fit of intracoronary radiation, local drug delivery or gen
e transfer has not been evaluated so far.
Prevention: Therefore, prevention of the iatrogenic entity in-stent resteno
sis has become more important.