Intracoronary radiation therapy improves the clinical and angiographic outcomes of diffuse in-stent restenotic lesions: results of the Washington Radiation for In-Stent Restenosis Trial for Long Lesions (Long WRIST) Studies.
BACKGROUND
The Washington Radiation for In-Stent Restenosis Trial for long lesions (Long WRIST) was designed to determine the safety and efficacy of vascular brachytherapy for the treatment of diffuse in-stent restenosis.


RESULTS
A total of 120 patients with diffuse in-stent restenosis in native coronary arteries (lesion length, 36 to 80 mm) were randomized for either radiation with 192Ir with 15 Gy at 2 mm from the source axis or placebo. After enrollment, 120 additional patients with the same inclusion criteria were treated with 192Ir with 18 Gy and included in the Long WRIST High Dose registry. Antiplatelet therapy was initially prescribed for 1 month and was extended to 6 months in the last 60 patients of the Long WRIST High Dose registry. At 6 months, the binary angiographic restenosis rate was 73%, 45%, and 38% in the placebo, 15 Gy, and 18 Gy radiated groups, respectively (P<0.05). At 1 year, the primary clinical end point of major cardiac events was 63% in the placebo group and 42% in the radiated group with 15 Gy (P<0.05). The major cardiac event rate was further reduced with 18 Gy (22%; P<0.05 versus 15 Gy). Late thrombosis was 12%, 15%, and 9% in the placebo group, 15 Gy group with 1 month of antiplatelet therapy, and 18 Gy group with 6 months of antiplatelet therapy, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Vascular brachytherapy with 192Ir is safe and reduces the rate of recurrent restenosis in diffuse in-stent restenosis. The efficacy of vascular brachytherapy on angiographic and clinical outcomes is enhanced with a radiation dose of 18 Gy and prolonged antiplatelet therapy.
Waksman
Ron
R
Washington Hospital Center, 110 Irving St, NW, Suite 4B-1, Washington, DC 20010, USA. ron.waksman@medstar.net
Cheneau
Edouard
E
Ajani
Andrew E
AE
White
R Larry
RL
Pinnow
Ellen
E
Torguson
Rebecca
R
Deible
Regina
R
Satler
Lowell F
LF
Pichard
Augusto D
AD
Kent
Kenneth M
KM
Teirstein
Paul S
PS
Lindsay
Joseph
J
D001918:Brachytherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D023903:Coronary Restenosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007496:Iridium Radioisotopes; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D015607:Stents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D007496:Iridium Radioisotopes