What is restenosis?

What is restenosis?

• A. When a vessel renarrows from previous angioplasty/stenting of lesions
• B. When a new lesion forms in a different artery
• C. When blood flow is reduced due to external compression
• D. When the vessel diameter increases after intervention

Answer: (A)

Restenosis is the re-narrowing of a vessel at the site that was previously widened by angioplasty or stenting, usually caused by neointimal hyperplasia and scar tissue that constrict the lumen over time after the intervention. This process often presents months after the procedure and can lead to recurrent angina or ischemia. It differs from forming a new lesion in another artery, which is new disease in a different segment rather than failure of the treated segment. External compression reduces flow from outside the vessel, not from narrowing inside the treated segment. An increase in vessel diameter after intervention would be the opposite of restenosis, signaling successful widening rather than re-narrowing.

Restenosis is the re-narrowing of a vessel at the site that was previously widened by angioplasty or stenting, usually caused by neointimal hyperplasia and scar tissue that constrict the lumen over time after the intervention. This process often presents months after the procedure and can lead to recurrent angina or ischemia. It differs from forming a new lesion in another artery, which is new disease in a different segment rather than failure of the treated segment. External compression reduces flow from outside the vessel, not from narrowing inside the treated segment. An increase in vessel diameter after intervention would be the opposite of restenosis, signaling successful widening rather than re-narrowing.