Time course of vascular response after an a priori strategy of bare metal stent implantation post-dilated with a paclitaxel-coated balloon: Implementation of a three-dimensional analysis algorithm with optical coherence tomography.

Background: An a priori combined therapy of a bare metal stent post-dilated with a paclitaxel- -coated balloon (PCB) was investigated with optical coherence tomography (OCT) at 2 and 6 months regarding vessel response. Previous studies have shown inconsistent results and the time course of vessel healing after such an interventional strategy is unknown.

Methods: Thirty-three de novo lesions in 32 patients were electively treated.

Determinants of neointimal proliferation and stent coverage after intracoronary therapy with drug-eluting devices in stable coronary artery disease: role of endothelial progenitor cells and interleukin-1 family cytokines.

Background: Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) and cytokines seem to play a pivotal role in arterial healing after stent implantation. Using optical coherence tomography (OCT) as a high-resolution imaging technique, we aimed to assess the influence of circulating EPCs and levels of Il-1 cytokines on stent coverage and in-stent proliferation.

Methods: Eighty-nine patients were randomly treated with either Xience V drug-eluting stent (DES; n = 48) or bare-metal stent (BMS) postdilated with the SeQuent Please drug-eluting balloon (DEB; n = 41).

Stent coverage and neointimal proliferation in bare metal stents postdilated with a Paclitaxel-eluting balloon versus everolimus-eluting stents: prospective randomized study using optical coherence tomography at 6-month follow-up.

Background: In this randomized trial, strut coverage and neointimal proliferation of a therapy of bare metal stents (BMSs) postdilated with the paclitaxel drug-eluting balloon (DEB) was compared with everolimus drug-eluting stents (DESs) at 6-month follow-up using optical coherence tomography. We hypothesized sufficient stent coverage at follow-up.

Methods And Results: A total of 105 lesions in 90 patients were treated with either XIENCE V DES (n=51) or BMS postdilated with the SeQuent Please DEB (n=54).

A prospective randomised study using optical coherence tomography to assess endothelial coverage and neointimal proliferation at 6-months after implantation of a coronary everolimus-eluting stent compared with a bare metal stent postdilated with a paclitaxel-eluting balloon (OCTOPUS Trial): rationale, design and methods.

Background: Safety concerns regarding use of drug-eluting stent systems (DES) are related mostly to late stent thrombosis, which is facilitated by incomplete stent endothelial coverage. Specific information about time course and amount of endothelial strut coverage of different DES is required, in order to further refine the concept of antiplatelet therapy after DES implantation. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is emerging as a new gold standard for endovascular imaging of stents, atherosclerosis progression, vulnerable plaque, and neointimal proliferation.