Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: To explore relationship between host endothelin-1 level changes and intravascular restenosis during and after heart stent implantation.
METHODS: A computer-based online search of VIP database was performed for articles published between January 1994 and October 2009, with key words “stent implantation, restenosis, endothelin-1, drug-eluting stent” in Chinese. A total of 22 articles were analyzed.
RESULTS: Endothelin-1 is the endogenous vasoconstriction peptide with strong and continuous effect. It plays an important role in general blood pressure, local blood flow perfusion, promotion of mitosis and cell proliferation. Restenosis following percutaneous tranluminal coronary angioplasty is a process of endothelium dysfunction. Under normal condition, endothelial cells-released growth factor maintains a dynamic balance with growth inhibiting factor. However, this balance is damaged by percutaneous tranluminal coronary angioplasty, resulting growth stimulating factor activation, leading to vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation, migration and promoting restenosis formation.
CONCLUSION: Drug-eluting stent effectively inhibits host endothelin-1 increase, which may contribute to the prevention of restenosis.