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

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.