Summary

We hypothesized that restenosis after coronary stenting is predicted by elevated levels of markers of thrombus formation and inflammation. Plasma levels of representative markers of inflammation, the thrombin and plasmin activation systems and adhesion molecules were measured in 59 patients with stable angina pectoris before, immediately after and 6 hours (h), 12 h, 24 h, one month and six months after elective stent implantation (radioactive phosphorus-32 stents /RSs/ n=16,bare-metal stents /BMSs/ n=43). All patients underwent clinical and angiographic follow-up (FUP) six months after stenting. RSs had significantly higher angiographic severity of restenosis than BMSs (47.1 ± 20.1% vs. 27.6 ± 22.0%, p=0.003). Repeated measures ANOVA revealed significant differences between the BMS and RS groups as regards the increases in plasma levels of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1, p=0.022), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1, p=0.047), tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA, p=0.047) and CD40 ligand (CD40L, p=0.038). tPA levels tended to increase immediately after stenting in both groups, whereas the PAI-1 level one month after stenting was elevated significantly only in the RS group. In the RS group, the plasma levels of CD40L were increased at 24 h and six months after stenting, and the VCAM-1 level rose immediately after stenting and remained high during the FUP. Multivariate analysis on pooled laboratory data of both groups revealed elevated levels of VCAM-1 at 12 h and at six months as significant predictors of the severity of stent restenosis. In conclusion, the process of inflammation and thrombosis occurring after coronary interventions seems to be prolonged and enhanced in patients with highgrade restenosis at the follow up.