Restenosis after coronary balloon angioplasty.

A recurrence of stenosis (restenosis) following successful coronary angioplasty continues to be a frequent problem limiting the long-term efficacy of the procedure. An overexuberant reparative response to the arterial injury induced by balloon dilatation leads to intimal hyperplasia, the major mechanism responsible for restenosis. Although none has yet been proven effective, agents designed to prevent this hyperplastic response are under investigation.