Restenosis After Delayed Coronary Angioplasty of the Culprit Vessel in Patients With a Recent Myocardial Infarction Treated by Thrombolysis

Abstract

Despite a satisfactory clinical outcome, delayed PTCA of an infarct-related lesion is associated with a high rate of angiographic recurrence. Two distinct mechanisms account for recurrent stenosis: progressive luminal renarrowing as documented after angioplasty of stable lesions and reocclusion of the infarct-related lesion. Only reocclusion is associated with a deterioration in left ventricular function at follow-up.