Plasma Platelet Activating Factor Levels in Patients Undergoing Stent Implantation and Its Effect on Restenosis

Platelet activating factor (PAF), which is a potent platelet agonist, is involved in the inflammatory responses. Coronary interventional procedures are expected to induce PAF release through the local injury on the coronary lesion. The aim of this study was to evaluate prospectively the relationship between PAF release and stent restenosis. The study group consisted of 18 consecutive patients (14 males, mean age: 52.4±2.3 years, 37-70 years) underwent successful elective coronary stenting. All stents were implanted with the same protocol. All subjects were controlled with quantitative coronary angiography after 4-6 months following stent implantation. Plasma PAF levels were measured before, immediately after the invasive procedure, and at the control angiography. Pre-procedural samples were drawn from the aortic root and the post-procedure samples were drawn from the distal segment of the coronary artery beyond the lesion. RIA method was used for the quantitative measurement of PAF. The PAF levels in pre-implantation period were significantly lower than in the post implantation period. It was not found any significant difference between the PAF levels of patients with restenosis (n=5) and the non-restenotic patients (p>0.05). In restenotic patients, the PAF levels remained similar to pre-implantation period, while it was significantly low in non-restenotic patients at the control angiography. These data suggested that the coronary stenting induced a significant increase in PAF levels in acute period. There is a relationship between the occurrence of restenosis and PAF levels.