The incidence of stent-edge spasm after stent implantation in patients with or without vasospastic angina pectoris.

Although several investigations have reported that stent implantation is an option for the treatment of vasospastic angina (VSA) that is resistant to medical treatment, we are concerned about the occurrence of new stent-edge spasms after stenting. The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence of new stent-edge spasms after stenting. Twenty-seven patients with VSA and 23 patients without VSA were enrolled. About 6 months after stent implantaion, a spasm provocation test was performed by intracoronary infusion of acetylcholine or ergonovine in 26 patients with VSA and all patients without VSA, and the induced stent-edge spasms were classified as either moderate (stent-edge spasm > 75% and < 95% reduction in coronary artery diameter) or severe (stent-edge spasm > 95% reduction in coronary artery diameter). In one patient with VSA, stent-edge spasm and acute thrombosis occurred several hours after stent implantation. The remaining 26 patients with VSA had no complications during or after stent implantation. However, during the chronic phase, severe stent-edge spasm was provoked in 5 patients with VSA (19.2%) and in 2 patients without VSA (8.7%). Moderate stent-edge spasm was provoked in 5 patients with VSA (19.2%) and 5 patients without VSA (21.7%). The results suggest new onset stent-edge spasm in patients either with or without VSA should not be neglected.