'Miracle stents'--a future without restenosis

Abstract

Over the last three decades, percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) technology has revolutionized the field of cardiology. PCI began in the form of balloon angioplasty, and was followed by coronary stenting. In-Stent restenosis is the main limitation of coronary stenting, and has been delayed to some extent by the development of drug eluting stents. Coronary angioplasty with stenting is currently the most popular non-medical treatment of coronary artery disease therefore solving the problem of in-stent restenosis could change the future role of other types of coronary intervention. This review examines the types of percutaneous coronary interventions, the mechanisms leading up to in-stent restenosis, and how previous and current treatments of in-stent restenosis influence the vascular response to injury.