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(Circulation. 2000;101:e163.)
© 2000 American Heart Association, Inc.

Circulation Electronic Pages

Cytomegalovirus and Restenosis After Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty

Pedro R. Moreno, MD

Assistant Professor of Medicine University of Kentucky Director Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory Veterans Administration Medical Center, Lexington, Ky E-mail pmoreno@pop.uky.edu

Igor F. Palacios, MD

Associate Professor of Medicine Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass

	Introduction

Top Introduction References

 
To the Editor:

Manegold et al¹ compared the incidence of prior cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection and the risk of restenosis after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) in 92 consecutive patients. A total of 65% of these patients were positive for IgG CMV antibodies. At 6 months, angiographic restenosis was similar in CMV-positive and CMV-negative patients. These results conflict with those of Zhou et al,² who identified prior CMV infection as an independent risk factor for restenosis after directional coronary atherectomy (DCA). Manegold et al explain this discrepancy on the basis of reduced vessel wall injury with PTCA in comparison with DCA.¹ In the companion editorial, Bertrand and Bauters³ suggest that CMV may play a role in smooth muscle cell proliferation, which may be more important after DCA than after PTCA.

To address this question, we compared coronary restenotic tissue obtained by DCA from 44 patients who had restenosis after PTCA with tissue from 11 patients who had restenosis after DCA. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded samples were stained by a trichrome method. Neointimal smooth muscle cell proliferative tissue was defined as loose connective tissue matrix containing numerous stellate cells, as quantified by computer-aided planimetry. Sclerotic tissue, fibrocellular tissue, atheroma, and thrombus were also quantified as previously described.⁴ Total plaque area was similar in both groups. The area occupied by neointimal smooth muscle cell tissue was greater in restenotic samples from patients with DCA restenosis (3.24±0.29 mm²) than in restenotic samples from patients with PTCA restenosis (1.28±0.22 mm²; P=0.0001). The percentage of total plaque area occupied by neointimal smooth muscle cell tissue was also greater in restenotic samples from patients with DCA restenosis (74±4%) than in restenotic samples from patients with PTCA restenosis (35±4%; P=0.0001).

This study documented an increased neointimal response in restenotic tissue after DCA in comparison with restenotic tissue after PTCA. The results of this study may help to understand why CMV—a promoter of smooth muscle cell proliferation and an established predictor for DCA restenosis—may not be a predictor for PTCA restenosis, which is predominately mediated by a remodeling rather than a proliferative response.⁵

	References

Top Introduction References

 

1. Mangold C, Alwazzeh M, Jablonowski H, Adams O, Mevde M, Seidlitz B, Heidland U, Haussinger D, Strauer BE, Heintzen MP. Prior cytomegalovirus infection and the risk of restenosis after percutaneous transluminal coronary balloon angioplasty. Circulation.. 1999;99:1290–1294.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
   
2. Zhou YF, Leon MB, Waclawiw MA, Popma JJ, Yu ZX, Finkel T, Epstein SE. Association between prior cytomegalovirus infection and the risk of restenosis after directional coronary atherectomy. N Engl J Med.. 1996;335:624–630.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
   
3. Bertrand ME, Bauters C. Cytomegalovirus infection and coronary restenosis. Circulation. 1999;99:1278–1279.[Free Full Text]
   
4. Moreno PR, Bernardi VH, L-Pez-Cuellar J, Palacios IF, Gold HK, Nemerson Y, Fuster V, Fallon JT. Macrophages, smooth muscle cells and tissue factor in unstable angina: implications for cell-mediated thrombogenicity in acute coronary syndromes. Circulation. 1996;94:3090–3097.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
   
5. Kakuta T, Currier JW, Haudenschild CC, Ryan TJ, Faxon DP. Differences in compensatory vessel enlargement, not intimal formation, account for restenosis after angioplasty in the hypercholesterolemic rabbit model. Circulation.. 1994;89:2809–2815.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
   

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Moreno, P. R. Articles by Palacios, I. F. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Moreno, P. R. Articles by Palacios, I. F. Related Collections Remodeling Catheter-based coronary and valvular interventions: other Restenosis Smooth muscle proliferation and differentiation