Aim: To assess frequency of unstable angina due to restenosis after percutaneous angioplasty of venous grafts and to elucidate risk factors of its development.
Material and methods: Percutaneous interventions were successfully performed in 100 out of 106 patients with venous graft stenoses. These patients were followed up for 17+/-11 (maximum 36) months.
Results: Unstable angina due to venous graft restenosis developed in 24% of patients. Patients with unstable angina compared with those without were characterized by higher frequency of hyperlipidemia (83 vs. 51%, respectively, p=0.032), lower rate of stenting (46 and 72%, respectively, p=0.032), greater residual stenosis (15+/-13 and 9+/-8%, respectively, p=0.008). At multifactorial regression analysis the following factors were significant predictors of unstable angina: hyperlipidemia (odds ratio [OR] 3.55, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.64-8.39), and residual stenosis after intervention (OR 1.04, 95% CI 1.01-1.07, p=0.04). In a subgroup of patients with hyperlipidemia there was a tendency to greater rate of unstable angina among patients not taking statins compared with users of statin (50 and 29%, respectively, p=0.083).
Conclusion: Unstable angina developed in (1/4) of patients after balloon dilatation of venous grafts and hyperlipidemia was its most powerful predictor.