Summary
Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) represents the most important treatment of
coronary artery stenosis today. But instent restenosis (ISR) is a limitation for the
outcome. Fas and Fas Ligand have been implicated in apoptosis and vessel wall inflammation.
Their role in ISR is not known so far. In this prospective study we studied 137 patients
with stable coronary artery disease who underwent elective PCI. Blood samples were
taken directly before and 24 hours after PCI. Soluble (s)Fas and sFas Ligand serum
levels were measured by ELISA. Restenosis was evaluated six to eight months later
either by coronary angiography or by exercise testing. During the follow-up period,
18 patients (13%) developed ISR. At baseline, patients with ISR had significantly
lower median sFas, as well as sFas Ligand levels compared to patients without ISR
(sFAS: ISR 492 pg/ml, no ISR 967 pg/ml, p=0.014; sFAS Ligand: ISR: 26 pg/ml, no ISR:
42 pg/ml, p=0.001). After PCI median sFas levels significantly decreased in patients
with ISR compared to patients without ISR [ISR: –152 pg/ml (IQR –36 to –227), no ISR:
–38 pg/ml (IQR –173 to +150 pg/ml), p=0.03]. sFas Ligand levels after PCI significantly
increased in ISR patients compared to patients without ISR [ISR: 14 pg/ ml (IQR –3
to +26 pg/ml), no ISR –6 pg/ml (IQR –22 to +21 pg/ml), p=0.014]. In conclusion, sFas
and sFas Ligand seem to be associated with the development of ISR. Determination of
serum levels before and after PCI might help identifying patients at higher risk of
ISR.
Keywords
Inflammation - restenosis - stent