Intravascular low-power red laser light as an adjunct to coronary stent implantation: Initial clinical experience

Low-power red laser light (LPRLL) Irradiation enhances endothelial cell gro wth in vitro and in vivo and reduces restenosis in animal models. The prese nt study reports the preliminary clinical experience in our center. Eighty- one patients were treated with LPRLL, 30 mW/1 min, far in-stent restenosis (n = 27), elective stenting for recurrent restenosis (n = 16), and stenting for treatment of a suboptimal PTCA result (n = 38), All interventions were successful and no major adverse events due to LPRLL therapy were observed. At follow-up, 12 patients (14.8%) underwent an early control coronarogram due to target vessel restenosis. At 6 months, another 20 patients showed a significant restenosis of the target vessel. Preliminary clinical evaluatio n demonstrates that LPRLL is feasible and safe. The preliminary results sug gest that LPRLL results in a decrease of in-stent restenosis when used duri ng primary stenting. (C) 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.