Abstract
Coronary angioplasty is widely performed for the management of symptomatic coronary artery disease. With improvements in technique, operator experience, and tools, more complex lesions are being treated. Unfortunately, luminal renarrowing continues to limit the long-term success of the procedure, resulting in the need for repeat revascularization in approximately 30% of patients within 6 months. As the pathophysiologic process of restenosis is better defined, various pharmacologic and mechanical interventions have been tried to attenuate the process. Some agents are antithrombotics, antiplatelets, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, lipid-lowering drugs, and calcium channel blockers. Improvement has been noted with the newer glycoprotein IIb- and IIIa-blocking agents, mechanical stents, and radioactive materials. Whether these new compounds will withstand the test of time is unknown.