In vivo optical coherence tomography of very late drug-eluting stent thrombosis compared with late in-stent restenosis.

Background: Autopsy findings have suggested delayed arterial healing as a primary cause of very late stent thrombosis (VLST) after drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation.

Methods And Results: Optical coherence tomography of DES-treated lesions that developed VLST (n = 6) was compared with that of DES-treated lesions that developed late in-stent restenosis (L-ISR: n = 32) among patients with recurrent ischemia >1 year after DES implantation (mean, 37 ± 17 months), and with the stented segment without any evidence of VLST or L-ISR (no-event: n = 20; mean, 38 ± 19 months). The proportion of uncovered and malapposed struts in each stented segment was evaluated.

The potential benefits and risks of the use of dual antiplatelet therapy beyond 6 months following sirolimus-eluting stent implantation for low-risk patients.

Background: The optimal duration of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAT) in patients undergoing intracoronary sirolimus-eluting stent implantation remains controversial.

Objective: To evaluate the clinical effects of long duration DAT in patients undergoing intracoronary sirolimus-eluting stent implantation in daily practice. In addition, to attempt to identify the optimal duration of DAT after implantation of a sirolimus-eluting stent.

The impact of gender difference on the effects of preinfarction angina on microvascular damage with reperfused myocardial infarction.

Background: Few studies have addressed gender differences in evoking preconditioning. In an experimental study, it was reported that the preconditioning effect disappeared after gonadectomy.

Objectives: We sought to determine the effects of preinfarction angina (PA) on myocardial damage using intravenous contrast echocardiography.