Intracoronary brachytherapy after stenting de novo lesions in diabetic patients: results of a randomized intravascular ultrasound study.
OBJECTIVE
We studied the efficacy of intracoronary brachytherapy (ICB) after successful coronary stenting in diabetic patients with de novo lesions.


BACKGROUND
Intracoronary brachytherapy has proven effective in preventing recurrences in patients with in-stent restenosis. However, the role of ICB for the treatment of de novo coronary stenoses remains controversial.


METHODS
Ninety-two patients were randomized to either ICB or no radiation after stenting. Primary end points were in-stent mean neointimal area (primary end point of efficacy) and minimal luminal area of the entire vessel segment (primary end point of effectiveness), as assessed by intravascular ultrasound at six-month follow-up. Quantitative coronary angiography analysis was performed at the target, injured, irradiated, and entire vessel segments.


RESULTS
At follow-up, the in-stent mean neointimal area was 52% smaller in the ICB group (p < 0.0001). However, there was no difference in the minimal luminal area of the vessel segment (4.5 +/- 2.4 mm2 vs. 4.4 +/- 2.1 mm2). Restenosis rates increased progressively by the analyzed segment in the ICB group: target (7.1% vs. 20.9%, p = 0.07), injured (9.5% vs. 20.9%, p = NS), irradiated (14.3% vs. 20.9%, p = NS), and vessel segment (23.8% vs. 25.6%, p = NS). At one year, 1 cardiac death, 6 myocardial infarctions (MIs) (3 due to late stent thrombosis), and 10 target vessel revascularizations (TVRs) (6 due to the edge effect) occurred in the ICB group, whereas in the nonradiation group, there were 11 TVRs and no deaths or MIs.


CONCLUSIONS
Intracoronary brachytherapy significantly inhibited in-stent neointimal hyperplasia after stenting in diabetic patients. However, clinically this was counteracted by the occurrence of the edge effect and late stent thrombosis.
Sabaté
Manel
M
San Carlos University Hospital, Madrid, Spain. msabate.hcsc@salud.madrid.org
Pimentel
Gela
G
Prieto
Carlos
C
Corral
José María
JM
Bañuelos
Camino
C
Angiolillo
Dominick J
DJ
Alfonso
Fernando
F
Hernández-Antolín
Rosana
R
Escaned
Javier
J
Fantidis
Panayotis
P
Fernández
Cristina
C
Fernández-Ortiz
Antonio
A
Moreno
Raúl
R
Macaya
Carlos
C
D000368:Aged; D001918:Brachytherapy; D023903:Coronary Restenosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D023921:Coronary Stenosis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D003328:Coronary Thrombosis / Q000209:etiology; D016757:Death, Sudden, Cardiac / Q000453:epidemiology; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006965:Hyperplasia / Q000517:prevention & control; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000453:epidemiology; D012086:Reoperation; D015607:Stents / Q000009:adverse effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000473:pathology; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional