Excellent very early neointimal coverage of bioactive stents by optical coherence tomography.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: In a prospective study, we explored the extent of neointimal coverage of stent struts by optical coherence tomography 14 days following the implantation of bioactive stents in an unselected cohort. DESIGN: We enrolled 15 consecutive patients who underwent bioactive stent implantation. Optical coherence tomography images were obtained at 14-day follow-up. Morphometric analysis, strut coverage, strut apposition, neointimal hyperplasia, and possible thrombosis were evaluated at 1-mm intervals. Binary stent strut coverage was defined as the percentage of covered struts of all analyzed struts. RESULTS: Patients underwent optical coherence tomography examination at an average of 14.5 ± 2.3 days following stent implantation. Mean age was 62 ± 11 years; 86.7% were males; 26.7% diabetic. Three-hundred eighteen cross-sections were analyzed, including 2935 struts, an average of 9.2 ± 3 struts per cross-section. Binary stent strut coverage was 96.3%; the prevalence of malapposed struts 1.8%. No thrombi were detected. Mean neointimal hyperplasia thickness was 71.5 ± 53.7 µm. CONCLUSIONS: In the current evaluation by optical coherence tomography at 14-day follow-up after bioactive stent implantation in an unselected cohort, binary stent strut coverage was fairly adequate, and the prevalence of malapposed struts was low.