Published Online
on July 26, 2004

A more recent version of this article appeared on August 3, 2004

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Submitted on October 29, 2003
Revised on April 29, 2004
Accepted on April 30, 2004

Distal Protection With a Filter Device During Coronary Stenting in Patients With Stable and Unstable Angina

Annalisa Angelini MD, Paolo Rubartelli MD, Flavio Mistrorigo MD, Mila Della Barbera BSc, Francesco Abbadessa MD, Massimo Vischi MD, Gaetano Thiene MD, FRCP^*, and Sergio Chierchia MD

From the Department of Pathology, University of Padua Medical School, Padua (A.A., F.M., M.D.B., G.T.), and the Cardiology Division, San Martino Hospital, Genoa (P.R., F.A., M.V., S.C.), Italy.

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: cardpath{at}unipd.it.

Background--Filter protection after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is now available to prevent distal embolization. The aims of this study were (1) to evaluate the microembolization phenomenon during procedures of stent implantation in native coronary arteries of patients with stable and unstable angina, (2) to assess the amount and characteristics of the debris captured by the Angioguard, and (3) to investigate the relation between clinical and angiographic variables and pathological data.

Methods and Results--Elective coronary stenting with the use of a protective filter was attempted in 39 consecutive coronary artery lesions with >60% stenosis (mean, 67.6±8.79%). Debris was present in 75.6% of the filters. Particle size ranged from 47.16 to 2503.48 µm (mean, 518.83±319.61 µm) in the major axis. Particles >300 µm were found in 24 of 28 filters with debris (85.7%), and particles >1000 µm were present in 10 of 28 filters (35.7%). Patients with unstable angina had greater particles (mean maximum longitudinal diameter, 1098.33±714.3 µm) than those with stable angina (412.91±453 µm; P<0.001). The presence of unstable angina (OR, 65; CI, 1.2 to 3420; P=0.03) and age >67 years (OR, 42; CI, 1 to 1698; P=0.04) were found to be the only independent predictors of embolic particle size.

Conclusions--By limiting embolization, protective devices may prevent a number of potentially unfavorable events, thereby improving outcome. Our data support the use of these devices, especially in lesions with higher embolic potential, such as those occurring in older patients and in those with unstable angina.

Key words: angioplasty • stents • embolism • pathology • coronary disease

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