Plasma tissue factor is a predictor for restenosis after femoropopliteal angioplasty

Abstract

BACKGROUND: In vitro studies suggest an association between raised levels of tissue factor and restenosis after coronary percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA). This prospective, controlled study examined the association between plasma tissue factor concentrations and restenosis after femoropopliteal PTA. METHODS: Plasma samples from ten healthy controls and 36 patients with unilateral claudication undergoing femoropopliteal PTA were collected at baseline and, in the patients with claudication, at 24 h and 1, 3 and 6 months after PTA. Clinical assessment and arterial duplex imaging were performed before and at the same time points after PTA to identify restenosis. Plasma tissue factor was measured using a specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: Baseline plasma tissue factor concentrations were significantly higher in patients with claudication (median 3.4 (interquartile range (i.q.r.) 1.3-7.4) ng/ml) than in controls (median 1.2 (i.q.r. 0.5-1.8) ng/ml) (P < 0.050). Baseline tissue factor concentrations were significantly higher in the ten patients with claudication who developed restenosis after PTA (median 7.0 (i.q.r. 3.4-183.5) ng/ml) than in those who did not (median 1.7 (i.q.r. 1.3-7.2) ng/ml) (P < 0.050). In addition, plasma tissue factor levels increased significantly over time in the patients who developed restenosis after PTA. CONCLUSION: High baseline and progressive increases in the plasma tissue factor concentration were useful predictors of restenosis after femoropopliteal angioplasty.