Background: Brachytherapy (IBT) has been the first effective treatment of in-stent restenosis (ISR). However, when IBT is associated with additional stenting, high rates of late thrombosis have been observed. Even though prolongation of a double antiplatelet therapy seems to have overcome this problem, studies analyzing whether additional stenting still remains a negative prognostic factor for restenosis are lacking.
Aim: To evaluate outcomes of patients treated for ISR with or without additional stenting and IBT followed by prolonged antiplatelet therapy.
Methods: Seventy-seven consecutive patients treated with beta radiation in 89 lesions with ISR were analyzed according to the need for deploying additional stents: 73 lesions were treated without additional stents (Group 1) and 16 lesions with one or more new stents (Group 2) because of suboptimal results or flow-limiting dissections. Double antiplatelet therapy was administered for 12 months. An angiographic follow-up was scheduled after 6 months. P-values < 0.05 were considered significant.
Results: Restenosis rates were 31.5% (23/73) and 62.5% (10/16) in Group 1 (G1) and Group 2 (G2), respectively (p = 0.02). The two groups did not differ for late vessel thrombosis (8 in G1 and 2 in G2). In G2, high rates of recurrence were observed in the additional stent (6/16, 37.5%; p = 0.02 versus edge restenosis and in old stent recurrence in both G1 and G2).
Conclusions: The association of additional stenting with brachytherapy in treatment of ISR is characterized by poor outcomes, even if a prolonged antiplatelet therapy has been administered. These results are related to high restenosis rates observed in the additional stent.