Intracoronary Radiation Therapy Improves the Clinical and Angiographic Outcomes of Diffuse In-Stent Restenotic Lesions

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Abstract
Background— The Washington Radiation for In-Stent Restenosis Trial for long lesions (Long WRIST) was designed to determine the safety and efficacy of vascular brachytherapy for the treatment of diffuse in-stent restenosis. Methods and Results— A total of 120 patients with diffuse in-stent restenosis in native coronary arteries (lesion length, 36 to 80 mm) were randomized for either radiation with 192 Ir with 15 Gy at 2 mm from the source axis or placebo. After enrollment, 120 additional patients with the same inclusion criteria were treated with 192 Ir with 18 Gy and included in the Long WRIST High Dose registry. Antiplatelet therapy was initially prescribed for 1 month and was extended to 6 months in the last 60 patients of the Long WRIST High Dose registry. At 6 months, the binary angiographic restenosis rate was 73%, 45%, and 38% in the placebo, 15 Gy, and 18 Gy radiated groups, respectively ( P P P Conclusions— Vascular brachytherapy with 192 Ir is safe and reduces the rate of recurrent restenosis in diffuse in-stent restenosis. The efficacy of vascular brachytherapy on angiographic and clinical outcomes is enhanced with a radiation dose of 18 Gy and prolonged antiplatelet therapy.