Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 17, 2025

A Murine Model of Stent Implantation in the Carotid Artery for the Study of Restenosis
Published on: May 14, 2013
Repeated In-Stent Restenosis Despite Aggressive Lipid Loweringby PCSK-9 Inhibitor Treatment: A Case Report
Yutaka Yonezawa1, Masashi Sakuma1, Shichiro Abe1
1Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Dokkyo Medical University School of Medicine.
Insights
High-dose statin therapy effectively prevented in-stent restenosis in a patient with coronary artery disease. Intensive statin treatment is recommended over PCSK9 inhibitors for secondary prevention.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Coronary artery disease (CAD) management often involves stent implantation and lipid-lowering therapy.
- In-stent restenosis (ISR) remains a significant complication post-stenting, necessitating effective prevention strategies.
Observation:
- A 76-year-old woman developed recurrent ISR despite initial rosuvastatin and PCSK9 inhibitor treatment.
- Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were significantly reduced but ISR persisted.
Findings:
- Increasing rosuvastatin to the maximum dose (20 mg/day) successfully prevented further ISR.
- Intensive statin therapy, not PCSK9 inhibitors, proved effective in this case.
Implications:
- Maximum-dose statin therapy should be prioritized for secondary prevention of CAD and ISR.
- This suggests a potential re-evaluation of treatment algorithms prioritizing high-intensity statins.
- Further research is warranted to compare the efficacy of intensive statin therapy versus PCSK9 inhibitors in preventing ISR.
Abstract:
A 76-year-old woman with unstable angina underwent coronary stent implantation. At the same time, rosuvastatin therapy was started. However, she experienced repeated in-stent restenosis (ISR). Treatment with a proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitor along with rosuvastatin (5 mg/day) reduced plasma low-density lipoprotein cholesterol to 10 mg/dL, but failed to prevent further ISR. Eventually, an increase in the rosuvastatin dose to the permitted maximum of 20 mg/day succeeded in preventing further in-stent restenosis. Rather than using PCSK9 inhibitors, intensive statin treatment, using the maximum dose of statins, should be prioritized for the secondary prevention of coronary artery disease.
Related Concept Videos
Atherosclerosis III: Management
Coronary Artery Disease V: Interprofessional Care
Peripheral Artery Disease III: Interprofessional Care
Lipid-Lowering Drugs: Statins and Miscellaneous Agents
Acute Coronary Syndrome IV: Interprofessional Care
Coronary Artery Disease IV: Preventive Measures

