Long-term follow-up after coronary stenting and intravascular red laser therapy

A high restenosis rate remains a limiting factor for coronary angioplasty a nd stenting. Recently, use of intravascular red light therapy (IRLT) has be en shown to be effective in different animal models and in humans in reduci ng the restenosis rate. Sixty-eight patients were treated with IRLT in conj unction with coronary stenting procedures. Mean age was 64 +/- 9 years. Tre ated lesions were type A (11), type B (42), and type C (18) with a mean les ion length of 16.5 +/- 2.4 mm. Reference vessel diameter and minimal lumen diameter (MLD) before therapy were 2.90 +/- 0.15 and 1.12 +/- 0.36 mm, resp ectively. After stenting and laser irradiation, MLD was 2.76 +/- 0.39 mm. N o procedural complications or in-hospital adverse events occurred. All pati ents were followed up as depicted in the protocol. Sixty-one patients under went angiographic restudy, which revealed restenosis in 9 patients (14.7%). Observed restenosis rate by artery size was >3 mm (n = 21,0%), 2.5 to 3.0 mm (n = 28, 14.2%), and <2.5 mm (n = 12, 41.6%). We conclude that IRLT is s afe and feasible and reduces the expected restenosis rate in patients after coronary stenting in arteries of >2.5 mm. (C)2000 by Excerpta Medica, Inc.