RESUMEN
Restenosis is a major problem of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) and related procedures. To better understand the underlying pathophysiologic mechanisms, coagulation and fibrinolytic variables were analysed prospectively in 35 patients after directional coronary atherectomy (DCA) and in 20 control patients undergoing diagnostic heart catheterisation and coronary angiography. Blood samples were taken before and 1 h, 24 h and 48 h after the procedure. No subacute thrombosis or unstable angina were documented in any patient. In 8 out of these 35 patients late restenosis was diagnosed during follow-up angiography 3-6 months after DCA. In these 8 patients prothrombin fragments (F1 + 2) rose from 0.7 to 0.9 nmol/l (P < 0.01) and thrombin-antithrombin III complexes (TAT) from 2.9 to 6.0 micrograms/l (P < 0.01), but not significantly in 27 patients without restenosis and in the control patients. In patients with late restenosis plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1) also increased from 2.4 to 4.9 U/ml (P < 0.05) 24 h after DCA while there were no significant changes in patients without restenosis and in control patients. D-Dimer/TAT ratio reflecting the balance between clotting activation and fibrinolysis was significantly lower after 24 h in restenosis patients. The findings suggest that coagulation activation and hypofibrinolysis during 48 h after DCA might be associated with the development of late restenosis.