Background: The present retrospective study was performed to assess the long-term (>7 years) fate of stabilized balloon-dilated sites.
Methods and results: Between February and April 1986, 171 patients underwent successful percutaneous balloon angioplasty. Early restenosis (<1 year) occurred in 53%, but repeat balloon angioplasty stabilized the balloon-dilated site. The early period was defined as 6 months, late years as 3-5 years and long-term years as 7-12 years. Angiographic evaluation at both early year or late year periods (mean = 4.7 years) and long-term (mean = 10.4 years) periods following stabilization was available in 71 patients (94 lesions) with mean age of 61.7+/-8.5 years. Of the 71 patients 69.6% were male. Restenosis occurring after 1 year was defined as late restenosis. The mean diameter stenosis changed from 6 months (50.3+/-12.4%) to late-period (44.2 +/-13.2%; p < 0.05) and long-term period (50.3+/-16.1%; p < 0.001); but the reference vessel diameter did not change significantly. Late restenosis occurred in 28% (3-5 years) and 33% (7-12 years) of 94 lesions, and 13.8% of lesion required repeat target lesion revascularization. During this period, 5.3% of patients (5 lesions) underwent revascularization for new proximal or distal lesions.
Conclusions: Decrease of luminal diameter during the early 6 months, was followed by regression after stabilization of the balloon-dilated site up to 5 years, but luminal re-narrowing occurs again over 7 years after balloon angioplasty.