Treatment of Restenosis and Factors Predisposing Restenosis Following Coronary Angioplasty

Restenosis following coronary angioplasty still remains the major limitation of this procedure. A variety of factors can effect the rate of restenosis. With better understanding of the mechanism of restenosis, the success of trials to prevent will also improve. In spite of many past treatment failures and continued frustration by clinical consequences of restenosis, we have gained enormous insights and now have optimism regarding more definite future therapeutic strategies. Recent developments seem to prevent the restenosis. The aim of this paper is provide a review of therapeutic trials to decrease the rate of restenosis and management of patients with restenosis. Some pharmacologic agents, advances in angioplasty techniques, drug-eluting stents and new genetic treatment modalities, reported in this paper, are hopeful advancements. Prevention of the restenosis will give us an opportunity to perform these non-surgical revascularization procedures in more widespread fashion and effectively.