Recent evidence suggests that higher restenosis rate is observed after coronary angioplasty of an infarct-related artery. Furthermore, angiographic restenosis seems associated with a deterioration of left ventricular function at follow-up. The aim of this study was to assess the acute results and angiographic restenosis following coronary artery stenting of infarct-related (Group 1) and non infarct-related coronary arteries (Group 2). We retrospectively analyzed the results of 381 consecutive patients treated with Palmaz-Schatz coronary stent implantation between May 1992 and January 1996. Stenting of the infarct-related artery was performed in 154 patients (Group 1), while 227 patients (Group 2) received stenting of the non infarct-related artery. Both groups had similar age, gender, clinical conditions and coronary angiographic pattern. There were no significant differences between groups, concerning type of stented coronary vessel (left anterior descending-LAD 52.4% vs non-LAD 47.6%, Group 1, LAD 59.5% vs non-LAD 40.5%, Group 2) and number of stents per patient (1.31 +/- 0.48 in Group 1, 1.18 +/- 0.56 in Group 2) and per coronary vessel (1.17 +/- 0.54 in Group 1, 1.09 +/- 0.46 in Group 2). The procedure was performed using similar maximal inflation pressures in both groups (13.3 +/- 2.9 atm in Group 1, 13.40 +/- 3.17 atm in Group 2). Technical success was achieved in 96.8% of Group 1 and in 96% of Group 2 patients. Acute coronary stenting success and major adverse events (acute myocardial infarction, emergency bypass, death) were similar in both groups of patients. No difference was found in restenosis rate at 6-month angiographic follow-up (Group 1 = 29.8%, Group 2 = 27%). In conclusion, this study indicates that stenting of infarct and non infarct-related coronary arteries has similar success and 6-month restenosis rates.