BACKGROUND: Incomplete stent apposition (ISA) has been documented after drug-eluting stents (DES) and could be related to stent thrombosis. Because DES differ in metal platform, polymer and pharmacological agent, differences in performance and safety are expected. OBJECTIVE: We sought to investigate the frequency and clinical consequences of ISA after implantation of sirolimus- (SES) and zotarolimuseluting stents (ZES). METHODS: 242 patients (pts) who underwent DES placement (175 pts with Cypher® and 67 pts with EndeavorTM stents) had serial intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) performed (at index procedure and after 6-months). RESULTS: 7 pts (4%) had late-acquired ISA after SES. Another 12 (6.8%) pts treated with SES had persistent ISA. Among pts treated with ZES, none had late ISA and 4 had ISA observed after stent implantation that completely resolved at 6-months. There was an increase in vessel (377.2 ± 148.9 to 431.9 ± 155.1 mm³, p = 0.51) and in plaque volume (206.1 ± 51.53 to 236.91 ± 68.4 mm³, p=0.36) in pts with late ISA. Amount of neointimal hyperplasia was significantly higher in ZES than SES (16.6 ± 5.8 mm³ vs 5.1 ± 5.5 mm³, p < 0.0001). After 9 months, no adverse clinical event was observed in pts with ISA. CONCLUSION: Overall incidence of IVUS-detected late incomplete DES apposition was 2.9%, all after SES. The presence of ISA was not related to clinical adverse events during mid term follow-up.
Stents; Ultrasonics; Sirolimus; Coronary restenosis
