Intriguing peri-strut low-intensity area detected by optical coherence tomography after coronary stent deployment.

BACKGROUND

Although peri-strut low-intensity area (PLIA) is frequently observed on post-stenting optical coherence tomography (OCT) images, the histology associated with PLIA is undocumented.

METHODS AND

RESULTS

The 36 porcine coronary lesions treated with bare-metal (BMS: n=16) or drug-eluting (DES: n=20) stents were assessed by OCT and histology at 28 days. DES showed a significantly higher incidence of PLIA than BMS. Also, +PLIA stents had greater neointima than PLIA stents. Histological analysis revealed the existence of fibrinoid and proteoglycans at the site of PLIA.

CONCLUSIONS

PLIA might be represented by the presence of fibrinoid and proteoglycans, and associated with neointimal proliferation after stenting.