The effect of current generation cobalt-chromium stents on neointimal proliferation has not been fully elucidated. IVUS images of 137 patients treated with a single thin-strut cobalt-chromium stent (Driver: DRI, n=74) or stainless steel stent (Multilink plus: ML, n=63) were selected. Although % neointima volume (neointimal volume divided by stent volume) were comparable, DRI showed significantly smaller maximum %cross-sectional narrowing (%CSN: neointimal area divided by stent area) (P=0.006) with significantly less %CSN>60 (percent stent length with %CSN>60%) than ML (P=0.04). In conclusion, the amount of neointimal hyperplasia after DRI implantation was comparable to that after ML. However, current generation cobalt-chromium DRI may show less and shorter severe narrowing than the stainless steel ML.
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