Three year anatomic, functional and clinical follow-up after successful percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty

Because the long-term anatomic effects of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty are unknown, follow-up evaluations including coronary angiography, treadmill exercise testing and rest and bicycle exercise radionuclide angiography were performed in 46 patients 6.3 ± 2.0 and 37.6 ± 3.6 (mean ± SD) months after they had undergone successful single lesion angioplasty. The severity of the coronary stenosis decreased significantly at each evaluation; the mean diameter stenosis was 66 ± 13% before angioplasty, 30 ± 13% immediately after and 26 ± 16% and 19 ± 13% at 6 months and 3 years, respectively. Exercise time increased from 9.8 ± 4.4 minutes before angioplasty to 18.3 ± 4.5 minutes immediately after the procedure and remained at that level at 6 months (20.3 ± 4.6 minutes) and 3 years (18.2 ± 4.5 minutes). Left ventricular ejection fraction during exercise decreased 4 ± 6% compared with rest before angioplasty, but increased 7 ± 7% immediately after angioplasty and this increase was maintained at 6 months (±6 ± 7%) and 3 years (±4 ± 6%). Before angioplasty, 1 patient was in Canadian Heart Association functional class 0, 15 were in class II, 24 in class III and 6 in class IV. Three years later, 25 were in class 0, 10 in class I, 7 in class II and 4 in class III. These results indicate that the short-term anatomic and functional success of coronary angioplasty is maintained for at least 3 years.