RESTENOSIS AFTER SUCCESSFUL EMERGENCY CORONARY ANGIOPLASTY FOR ACUTE MYOCARDIAL-INFARCTION - COMPARISON WITH ELECTIVE ANGIOPLASTY

We investigated the initial and late restenosis rate after successful emergency coronary angioplasty in 64 patients with acute myocardial infarction, and compared these results with those of 100 patients (110 lesions) who had successful angioplasty on an elective basis. The majority of the baseline clinical and angiographic variables were similar in the myocardial infarction and elective groups. The restenosis rate at 1 month was high in patients undergoing emergency angioplasty for acute myocardial infarction (23 vs. 12%). At 3-6 months, the angiographic restenosis rate was low for the infarction group (26 vs. 37%). The overall restenosis rate was similar in the infarction and elective groups (39 vs. 40%). Lesion regression after coronary angioplasty was more frequent in the infarction than in the elective angioplasty group (27 vs. 14%, P < 0.05). These findings suggest that considering the high restenosis rate at 1 month and the lower, but still 20% or more, rate at 3-6 months, a follow-up angiography should be performed both prior to discharge and at 3-6 months after the procedure, in patients with acute myocardial infarction.