Coronary In-Stent Restenosis: Predictors and Treatment

Despite the use of modern drug-eluting stents (DES), in-stent restenosis (ISR) may still occur in as many as 2-10% of percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) in certain lesion/patient subsets. ISR causes increased morbidity after stent implantation; acute myocardial infarction is a frequent correlate to a clinical ISR, arising in 5-10% of cases. Compared to de novo stenosis, patients with ISR also present more frequently with symptoms of unstable angina pectoris (45% versus 61%). In this article, we discuss the risk factors for ISR and the corresponding diagnostic measures and effective treatment strategies.