BACKGROUND: Several clinical, angiographic and ultrasonographic factors have been associated to stent restenosis and target lesion revascularization. As to intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) findings, the minimal stent area (MSA) has been correlated with minimal lumen areas (MLA) in patients treated with bare metal and drug eluting stents. OBJECTIVES: Evaluate MSA values of patients treated with EndeavorTM zotarolimus eluting stents capable of predicting MLA < 4 mm² after six months of follow-up. METHOD: Retrospective study with 47 patients and 50 lesions treated with zotarolimus eluting stents, submitted to IVUS at index and at the six-month follow-up. The MSA was then correlated to the MLA. ROC curve analysis was used to identify a MSA that could predict a MLA < 4 mm² at six months. RESULTS: There was a significant correlation (r² = 0.64; P = 0.001) between the MSA (6.0 ± 2.1 mm²) and MLA at six months (4.6 ± 2.4 mm²). There was a significant difference for MSA between the groups with MLA < 4 mm² vs. > 4 mm² (4.8 mm² vs. 6.8 mm², respectively; P = 0.001). ROC curve analysis identified a post-implant MSA of > 5.7 mm² as a predictor of MLA > 4 mm² at six months [area under curve: 0.815; 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 0.680.95; P < 0.001], with sensitivity and specificity of 80%. CONCLUSION: In this group of patients treated with EndeavorTM stents, MSA > 5.7 mm² was associated with MLA > 4 mm² at the mid-term follow-up. These findings may help achieve the optimal deployment of these stents.
Sirolimus; Drug-eluting stents; Ultrasonics; Tunica intima
