KEY WORDS: Coronary angioplasty, restenosis after angioplasty.

Knowledge on the histopathology of restenosis is scarce. This indicates that, despite its frequent occurrence, restenosis after coronary angioplasty is rarely a lethal disease. Animal models provide some information on what might occur after angioplasty. However, the results of these studies should only be applied to the situation in the atherosclerotic human artery with great caution. Steele et al. described the stages of healing and restenosis in carotid arteries of pigs receiving no medication'11. One hour after balloon angioplasty, endothelial denudation, medial tears and platelet deposition were found. One day later, there was necrosis of smooth muscle cells. A week later, the endothelium had completely regrown. About