Those patients require additional treatments. But previous research had found that when wounds are exposed to radiation, there is less scar tissue, so this investigational therapy is attempting to use radiation to prevent scare tissue in the blood vessels. We deliver a small dose of radiation inside the artery to try to prevent re-narrowing. The investigational therapy allows the doctor to send beads of radiation through the catheter into the blood vessel at the time of angioplasty. One of the other treatments used to prevent restenosis is the placement of a stent, an expandable metal device permanently implanted in the artery.
Stents support the vessel walls and are believed to help prevent blockages.
Lasala and Taniuchi are studying the effectiveness of the radiation therapy in patients who have symptoms of coronary artery disease and require an angioplasty procedure. The School of Medicine is one of the leading medical research, teaching and patient care institutions in the nation. Through its affiliations with Barnes-Jewish and St. Louis Children's hospitals, the School of Medicine is linked to BJC Health System.