[Major dissection after PTCA is a strong independent predictor of early luminal deterioration].

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the early natural course of dissection after PTCA and its relation to early luminal deterioration.

METHODS

One hundred and five patients who underwent relook coronary arteriography within 24 hours of PTCA were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were subdivided into no dissection and type A, B, C, D, and E dissection. Minimal luminal diameter (MLD) was measured immediately after PTCA and at relook coronary arteriography. The changes were correlated with the severity of the dissections.

RESULTS

Immediately after PTCA, the MLD in all 6 groups was > 2.0 mm. Except for type A dissection, the MLD, however, was deteriorated significantly at the relook coronary arteriography next day. The factors contributing to the deterioration were analyzed by covariance analysis, which showed a significant linear relation with the MLD immediately after PTCA and the type of dissection. Multivariate stepwise regression analysis was used to investigate if the patients' demographic factors and coronary lesion characteristics were also related to the MLD deterioration. The results showed that multivessel disease and the type of dissection were two independent risk factors of the MLD deterioration.

CONCLUSION

Even if the results immediately after PTCA were acceptable, MLD will deteriorate over time. The degree of the deterioration was not only related to elastic recoil, but also to the type of dissection. Type C, D and E dissections were unstable, causing much more damage to the MLD than type A and B dissections, which mandated immediate stent implantation to prevent early luminal deterioration and late restenosis. Stent implantation was usually unnecessary in type A and B dissections. Multivessel disease was also involved in the process of the MLD deterioration. The mechanism is unclear, but might be related to coronary lesion characteristics.