Outcomes of non-flow-limiting spiral dissection after drug-coated balloon angioplasty for de novo femoropopliteal lesions.

BACKGROUND: Whether drug-coated balloon (DCB) angioplasty would be effective in spiral dissection (SD) lesions with no flow impairment has been thoroughly investigated. AIMS: The present study sought to assess the clinical outcomes of non-flow-limiting SD after DCB angioplasty for de novo femoropopliteal lesions in patients with symptomatic lower extremity artery disease. METHOD: This single-center retrospective study enrolled 497 patients with non-flow-limiting SD (n = 92) or non-SD (n = 405) without bailout stenting. The primary endpoint was 1-year primary patency, with the secondary endpoints including freedom from target lesion revascularization (TLR), major adverse limb event (MALE), all-cause death, and 30-day restenosis. RESULTS: The 1-year primary patency and freedom from TLR were significantly lower in the SD group than in the non-SD group (69.8% vs. 83.3%, p = 0.004; 78.7% vs. 93.0%, p = 0.007, respectively). The SD group had a higher incidence of MALE and 30-day restenosis than the non-SD group (24.6% vs. 11.9%, p = 0.001; 4.3% vs. 0.5%, p = 0.002, respectively). All-cause death was comparable. One-year restenosis after SD was associated with chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI) (hazard ratio, 3.36 [95% confidence interval, 1.21-9.36]; p = 0.020), TASC Ⅱ D (hazard ratio, 3.97 [95% confidence interval, 1.02-15.52]; p = 0.047), and residual stenosis ≥50% (hazard ratio, 4.92 [95% confidence interval, 1.01-23.94]; p = 0.048). The incidence of restenosis after SD increased with the number of these risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: Despite normal antegrade flow, the 1-year primary patency rate after DCB angioplasty for de novo femoropopliteal lesions was significantly lower in lesions with SD than those without SD. CLTI, TASC II D, and residual stenosis ≥50% were risk factors associated with 1-year restenosis after DCB angioplasty for non-flow-limiting SD lesions.

Impact of lesion complexity on long-term vascular response to cobalt-chromium everolimus-eluting stent: five-year follow-up optical coherence tomography study.

The impact of lesion complexity on long-term vascular response to cobalt-chromium everolimus-eluting stent (CoCrEES) remains unclear. We sought to evaluate them using optical coherence tomography (OCT). A total of 47 patients with 58 lesions treated only with CoCrEES and no target-vessel events within 5 years after implantation were prospectively enrolled and underwent 5-year follow-up OCT. Quantitative parameters and qualitative characteristics of the neointima were evaluated using multilevel logistic or linear regression models with random effects at three levels: lesion, cross-section (CS), and strut. According to the lesion complexity, the lesions were classified into the two groups: the complex lesion (CL) and non-CL group. The CL was defined as having at least 1 high-risk feature such as acute coronary syndrome lesion, lesion length > 20 mm, severe calcification requiring rotational atherectomy, and chronic total occlusion at the index procedure. A total of 11,034 struts (CL, n = 6240; non-CL, n = 4794) and 1202 (CL, n = 683; non-CL, n = 519) CSs were analyzed. The percentage of uncovered and malapposed struts did not differ significantly between the CL and non-CL groups (0.90 vs. 0.54%, P = 0.78; 0.56 vs. 0.10%, P = 0.16, respectively). The incidence of neoatherosclerosis was comparable between both groups in the CS- and lesion-level analysis (3.5 vs. 4.6%, P = 0.91; 32.0 vs. 24.2%, P = 0.52, respectively). At 5 years, CoCrEES shows an excellent vascular healing and similar frequency of neoatheroslerosis in patients without target-vessel events, regardless of the lesion complexity.

Impact of total stent length after cobalt chromium everolimus-eluting stent implantation on 3-year clinical outcomes.

OBJECTIVES: The objective was to assess whether total stent length (TSL) after cobalt-chromium everolimus-eluting stent (CoCr-EES) implantation was associated with long-term clinical outcomes. BACKGROUND: The impact of TSL after CoCr-EES implantation on long-term clinical outcomes remained unclear. METHODS: A total of 1,007 consecutive patients with 1,382 lesions treated only with CoCr-EES were analyzed. Patients and lesions were divided into tertile group: TSL per patient (TSL-P) (PA [8-23 mm], n = 382; PB [23-46 mm], n = 312; and PC [46-204 mm], n = 313), and TSL per lesion (TSL-L) (LA [8-18 mm], n = 486; LB [18-28 mm], n = 475; and LC [28-140 mm], n = 421). The cumulative 3-year incidence of clinically driven target-lesion revascularization (CD-TLR) and definite stent thrombosis (ST) based on TSL-P and TSL-L groupings were accessed. RESULTS: After inverse probability of weighted adjustment, the cumulative 3-year incidence of CD-TLR for the TSL-P and TSL-L were higher in the PC and LC groups than in the other groups (hazard ratio [HR] 2.92, 95% confidence intervals [CI] 1.66-5.15, P < 0.001 vs. PA; HR 2.49, 95% CI 1.47-4.20, P < 0.001 vs. PB; HR 1.94, 95% CI 1.15-3.28, P = 0.01 vs. LA; HR 2.80, 95% CI 1.73-4.54, P < 0.001 vs. LB, respectively). No significant differences in the cumulative 3-year incidence of definite ST were observed in both TSL-P and TSL-L groups. CONCLUSIONS: TSL after CoCr-EES implantation has significantly impact on CD-TLR rate through 3 years, but it is not associated with an increased incidence of definite ST. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Clinical outcomes of balloon angioplasty alone versus nitinol stent implantation in patients with small femoropopliteal artery disease: Observations from the Retrospective Multicenter Analysis for Femoropopliteal Stenting (REAL-FP).

OBJECTIVES: We sought to assess whether balloon angioplasty (BA) alone for small femoropopliteal disease improved the outcome following endovascular therapy as compared with stent implantation. BACKGROUND: The optimal strategy of endovascular therapy for small vessel arteries in femoropopliteal disease remains unclear. METHODS: We performed a multicenter retrospective analysis of 337 consecutive patients (371 limbs) with femoropopliteal arteries 4.0 mm or less in diameter and 150 mm or less in length. RESULTS: Cumulative 3-year incidence of primary patency was significantly higher in the BA group than in the stent group (53.8% vs. 34.2%, P = 0.002). While assisted-primary patency and freedom from any major adverse limb events were also significantly higher in the BA group than in the stent group (70.9% vs. 44.2%, P < 0.001 and 60.6% vs. 36.4%, P = 0.001, respectively), secondary patency did not significantly differ between the two groups (86.9% vs. 86.9%, P = 0.67). Predictors of restenosis were diabetes mellitus (hazard ratio [HR], 1.61; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.14-2.31; P = 0.01), no administration of cilostazol (HR, 1.50; 95% CI, 1.07-2.13; P = 0.02), stent implantation (HR, 1.68; 95% CI, 1.15-2.41; P = 0.01), and lesion length >75.0 mm(HR, 2.09; 95% CI, 1.50-2.92; P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Lesions in small (<4.0 mm diameter) FP vessels demonstrated better primary patency at 3 years when successfully treated with balloon angioplasty alone as opposed to routine or bailout stenting. This difference was especially pronounced for lesions 75 to 150 mm in length.

Vascular response after Zilver PTX stent implantation for superficial femoral artery lesions: serial optical coherence tomography findings at 6 and 12 months.

PURPOSE: To compare the vascular response after paclitaxel-coated nitinol drug-eluting stent (Zilver PTX) implantation for superficial femoral artery lesions after 6 and 12 months using optical coherence tomography (OCT). METHODS: Serial OCT examinations were performed in 5 patients (4 men; mean age 78.4 ± 6.8 years) with 9 Zilver PTX stents at 6- and 12-month follow-up. Variables evaluated included neointimal thickness and apposition on each strut, the incidence of extrastent lumen (ESL), peristrut low-intensity area (PLIA), and neovascularization at 1-mm intervals. RESULTS: A total of 249 matched cross-section images were evaluated and included 4788 and 4826 struts at 6 and 12 months, respectively. Mean neointimal thickness significantly increased from 480 to 540 µm between 6 and 12 months (p < 0.001). The percentage of uncovered struts tended to decrease at 12 months (3% vs. 2.3%, p = 0.054), whereas the percentage of malapposed struts were similar at both examinations (0.2% vs. 0.2%, p > 0.99). Although the incidence of ESL in cross sections was not different (35% vs. 31%, p = 0.29), median ESL area significantly increased from 6 to 12 months [0.12 (0.04-0.36) vs. 0.31 (0.14-0.59) mm(2), p = 0.003)]. The presence of PLIA (29% vs. 44%, p < 0.001) and neovascularization (14% vs. 27%, p < 0.001) increased from 6 to 12 months. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that delayed vascular healing and persistent peristent inflammation may be present even at 12 months after Zilver PTX implantation.

A serial optical frequency-domain imaging study of early and late vascular responses to bioresorbable-polymer sirolimus-eluting stents for the treatment of acute myocardial infarction and stable coronary artery disease patients: results of the MECHANISM-ULTIMASTER study.

The purpose of this study was to assess early and late vascular healing in response to bioresorbable-polymer sirolimus-eluting stents (BP-SESs) for the treatment of patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and stable coronary artery disease (CAD). A total of 106 patients with STEMI and 101 patients with stable-CAD were enrolled. Optical frequency-domain images were acquired at baseline, at 1- or 3-month follow-up, and at 12-month follow-up. In the STEMI and CAD cohorts, the percentage of uncovered struts (%US) was significantly and remarkably decreased during early two points and at 12-month (the STEMI cohort: 1-month: 18.75 ± 0.78%, 3-month: 10.19 ± 0.77%, 12-month: 1.80 ± 0.72%; p < 0.001, the CAD cohort: 1-month: 9.44 ± 0.78%, 3-month: 7.78 ± 0.78%, 12-month: 1.07 ± 0.73%; p < 0.001 respectively). The average peri-strut low-intensity area (PLIA) score in the STEMI cohort was significantly decreased during follow-up period (1.90 ± 1.14, 1.18 ± 1.25, and 1.01 ± 0.72; p ≤ 0.001), whereas the one in the CAD cohort was not significantly changed (0.89 ± 1.24, 0.67 ± 1.07, and 0.64 ± 0.72; p = 0.59). In comparison with both groups, differences of %US and PLIA score at early two points were almost disappeared or close at 12 months. The strut-coverage and healing processes in the early phase after BP-SES implantation were significantly improved in both cohorts, especially markedly in STEMI patients. At 1 year, qualitatively and quantitatively consistent neointimal coverage was achieved in both pathogenetic groups.

Outcomes and regional differences in practice in a worldwide coronary stent registry.

OBJECTIVE: The primary objective was to assess the performance of a new generation thin-strut sirolimus-eluting coronary stent with abluminal biodegradable polymer in an all comer population. The secondary objective was to detail differences in contemporary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) practice worldwide. METHODS: e-Ultimaster was an all-comer, prospective, global registry (NCT02188355) with independent event adjudication enrolling patients undergoing PCI with the study stent. The primary outcome measure was target lesion failure (TLF) at 1 year, defined as the composite of cardiac death, target vessel myocardial infarction and clinically driven target lesion revascularisation. Data were stratified according to 4 geographical regions. RESULTS: A total of 37 198 patients were enrolled (Europe 69.2%, Asia 17.8%, Africa/Middle East 6.6% and South America/Mexico 6.5%) and 1-year follow-up was available for 35 389 patients (95.1%). One-year TLF occurred in 3.2% of the patients, ranging from 2% (Africa/Middle East) to 4.1% (South America/Mexico). In patients with acute coronary syndrome, potent P2Y12 inhibitors were prescribed in 48% of patients at discharge, while at 1 year 72% were on any dual antiplatelet therapy. Lipid-lowering treatment was administered in 80.9% and 75.5% of patients at discharge and 1 year, respectively. Regional differences in the profile of the treated patients as well as in PCI practice were reported. CONCLUSIONS: In this investigation with worldwide representation, contemporary PCI using a new generation thin-strut sirolimus-eluting coronary stent with abluminal biodegradable polymer was associated with low 1-year TLF across clinical presentations and continents. Suboptimal adherence to current recommendations around antiplatelet and lipid lowering treatments was detected.

Vascular response to bioresorbable polymer sirolimus-eluting stent vs. permanent polymer everolimus-eluting stent at 9-month follow-up: an optical coherence tomography sub-study from the CENTURY II trial.

AIMS: The Ultimaster bioresorbable polymer sirolimus-eluting stent (BP-SES) is a newly developed drug-eluting stent (DES) that consists of a thin-strut, cobalt chromium with bioresorbable polymer coated only albuminally. We sought to compare tissue coverage in coronary lesions treated with BP-SES with the XIENCE permanent polymer everolimus-eluting stent (PP-EES) using optical coherence tomography (OCT). METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 36 patients participated in the CENTURY II trial in our institution and were randomly assigned to BP-SES (n = 15) and PP-EES (n = 21). Of these, 27 patients (13 BP-SES and 14 PP-EES) underwent OCT at 9-month follow-up. Tissue coverage and apposition were assessed on each strut, and the results in both groups were compared using multilevel logistic or linear regression models with random effects at three levels: patient, lesion, and struts. A total of 6450 struts (BP-SES, n = 2951; PP-EES, n = 3499) were analysed. Thirty and 79 uncovered struts (1.02 and 2.26%, P = 0.35), and 3 and 4 malapposed struts (0.10 and 0.11%, P = 0.94) were found in BP-SES and PP-EES groups, respectively. Mean neointimal thickness did not significantly differ between both groups (110 ± 10 vs. 93 ± 10 µm, P = 0.22). No significant differences in per cent neointimal volume obstruction (13.2 ± 4.6 vs. 10.5 ± 4.9%, P = 0.14) or other areas-volumetric parameters were detected between both groups. CONCLUSION: BP-SES shows an excellent vascular healing response at 9-month follow-up, which is similar to PP-EES.

Long-term coronary arterial response to biodegradable polymer biolimus-eluting stents in comparison with durable polymer sirolimus-eluting stents and bare-metal stents: five-year follow-up optical coherence tomography study.

OBJECTIVE: The long-term coronary arterial response of biodegradable polymer biolimus-eluting stents (BES) remains unclear. We sought to evaluate the coronary arterial response of biodegradable polymer BES at 5 years after stent implantation using optical coherence tomography (OCT) as compared with that of durable polymer sirolimus-eluting stents (SES) and bare-metal stents (BMS). METHODS: Five-year follow-up OCT was performed in 30 patients with 33 stents (10 with 12 BES; 10 with 11 SES; 10 with 10 BMS). Quantitative parameters and qualitative characteristics of the neointima were evaluated. A total of 5178 struts (BES, n = 2056; SES, n = 1410; BMS, n = 1712) were analyzed. RESULTS: Uncovered struts were found in 15 out of 2055 struts in the BES (weighted estimate 0.01%, 95% confidence intervals [CI]: 0.00-0.33%) and 54 out of 1410 struts in the SES (0.11%, 95% CI: 0.00-3.33%) (odds ratio [OR] 0.12, 95% CI: 0.01-1.95, p = 0.13). None of 1712 struts were uncovered in the BMS. Cross-sectional qualitative analysis of neointimal tissue showed that the frequency of lipid-laden neointima tended to be lower in the BES (2.26%, 95% CI: 0.38-12.3%) compared with the SES (9.90%, 95% CI: 4.37-20.9%; OR 0.21, 95% CI 0.03-1.16, p = 0.07), and was similar to the BMS (2.23%, 95% CI: 0.54-8.74%; OR 0.98, 95% CI 0.13-7.14, p = 0.98). CONCLUSIONS: Biodegradable polymer BES shows a favorable coronary arterial response compared with SES, but different response with BMS at 5 years follow-up. The observed frequency of in-stent neoatherosclerosis within BES was similar to BMS and tended to be lower than SES.