Nature of coronary disease in patients with insulin resistance and its impact on revascularization strategies.

Data on the nature of coronary artery disease in patients with insulin resistance and its treatment have been obtained mostly in the diabetic population. The 'quantitative' and 'qualitative' changes in the course of coronary artery disease and the relationship with the increased rate of cardiac events in this population will be discussed. The effects of various methods of revascularization (bypass surgery vs. percutaneous revascularization) and the potential benefit of recent adjuncts to percutaneous revascularization (stents, drug-eluting stents, antiplatelet agents) will be discussed.