Late Restenosis After Both First-Generation and Second-Generation Drug-Eluting Stent Implantations Occurs in Patients With Drug-Eluting Stent Restenosis.

BACKGROUND There are currently inadequate data about whether late restenosis occurs after drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation in patients with DES restenosis. METHODS AND RESULTS We collected data for 608 patients who received revascularization for DES restenosis between 2004 and 2012 and analyzed 688 lesions: 359 lesions treated with a first-generation DES (first DES) and 329 lesions treated with a second-generation DES (second DES). Two serial angiographic follow-ups were routinely planned for the patients (at 8 and 20 months after the procedure). Early follow-up angiography was performed for 620 lesions (90.1%), and recurrent restenosis occurred in 84 lesions (25.8%) in the first DES group and in 72 lesions (24.5%) in the second DES group (P=0.78). Target lesion revascularization was performed for 69 lesions (21.2%) in the first DES group and for 48 lesions (16.3%) in the second DES group (P=0.15). Late follow-up angiography was performed for 438 (87.1%) of the remaining 503 lesions (excluding target lesion revascularization lesions), and late restenosis was found in 35 lesions (15.8%) in the first DES group and in 28 lesions (14.7%) in the second DES group (P=0.79). Nonfocal-type restenosis, percentage diameter stenosis after the procedure, previous stent size ≤2.5 mm, and right coronary artery ostial lesion were independent predictors of early restenosis. Nonfocal-type restenosis, percentage diameter stenosis at early follow-up, and stent fracture were independent predictors of late restenosis. CONCLUSIONS Late restenosis occurs after both first DES implantation and second DES implantation for DES restenosis.