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Title: Five-year clinical and angiographic follow-up after intracoronary iridium-192 radiation therapy

Journal Article · · Cardiovascular Radiation Medicine

Background: Ionizing gamma radiation has been shown to reduce neointimal formation and the incidence of restenosis after balloon angioplasty and stenting in clinical trials. However, the long-term effects of this therapy are unknown. The first cohort of patients to receive intracoronary gamma radiation after balloon angioplasty for the prevention of restenosis have completed a 5-year angiographic and clinical follow-up. The outcome of these patients is presented and discussed. Methods: Twenty-one patients with unstable angina (22 arteries) underwent standard balloon angioplasty. Intracoronary radiation therapy was performed immediately after the intervention using an Iridium-192 source wire hand-delivered to the angioplasty site. All patients were followed clinically and Quantitative Coronary Analysis (QCA) was performed at 6, 24, 36 and 60 months. Results: Target lesion revascularization occurred in six lesions, three of which were total occlusions (two early within 30 days and one occurred at 2 years), and one patient had a myocardial infarction attributable to a nontarget vessel. Serial QCA detected a binary restenosis rate of 28.6% (n=6) at 6 months. The late loss (0.29 mm) and loss index (0.25) remained low at 2, 3 and 5 years. Angiographic complications included four aneurysms (two procedure related and two occurring within 3 months). At 2 years, only one aneurysm increased in size (46 vs. 27 mm{sup 2}); and at 3 and 5 years, all aneurysms remained unchanged. No other angiographic complications were observed. Conclusion: The early clinical and angiographic effects of intracoronary gamma radiation were maintained at 5 years without further increase in the aneurysm formation or apparent new adverse effects related to the radiation therapy between 2 and 5 years.

OSTI ID:
20650544
Journal Information:
Cardiovascular Radiation Medicine, Vol. 3, Issue 2; Other Information: DOI: 10.1016/S1522-1865(03)00077-5; PII: S1522186503000775; Copyright (c) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1522-1865
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English