The Impact of Lesion Length on Angiographic Restenosis after Vertebral Artery Origin Stenting

ObjectiveTo evaluate the effect of lesion length on in-stent restenosis (ISR) of vertebral artery (VA) origin stenting.MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the medical and radiological records of patients receiving VA origin stenting from March 1999 to June 2005. They were subdivided according to lesion length. ISR was defined as >50% diameter narrowing in stent.ResultsEighty symptomatic patients (64 male, mean age 72 years) with 90 lesions treated with balloon expandable tubular coronary stents were enrolled. There were 34 patients with 38 short lesions (length ≤ 5 mm, group 1), 37 patients with 42 medium lesions (length > 5 mm, <10 mm, group 2) and 9 patients with 10 long lesions (length ≥ 10 mm, group 3). Eighty seven bare-metal stents and 3 drug-eluting stents were implanted. Repeat angiography was done in 40 lesions (44%) at 11.7 ± 9.6 months. The ISR rate in group 1, 2, 3 is 21%, 29%, and 50% (p = 0.486). Multivariable Cox regression analysis showed lesion length was the only significant independent predictor of ISR (hazard ratio: 1.19, p = 0.039).ConclusionISR of VA origin stenting is common. Lesion length is an important predictor of ISR in VA origin stenting.