Objective: To assess the neointimal coverage after the implantation of various drug eluting stents (DES) by optical coherence tomography (OCT).
Methods: The study comprised of 62 patients implanted DES for (15.3 ± 5.7) months. Patients were divided into three groups according to the type of implanted stent: Cypher group (patient = 26, stent = 57), Endeavor group (patient = 17, stent = 23) and Firebird group (patient = 19, stent = 32). OCT images of the stent were analyzed by software equipped by Light Lab system. Intimal thickness of 64 µm, 168 µm and 366 µm represents 10%, 25% and 50% lumen area loss, respectively. Neointimal coverage was thin with intimal thickness ≤ 64 µm, satisfactory with intimal thickness between 65 µm and 366 µm and hyperplasia and restenosis with intimal thickness > 366 µm.
Results: The percent of complete neointimal coverage was similar among groups (P > 0.05). The thickness of neointimal coverage in Cypher and Endeavor and Firebird group was (178.7 ± 11.9) µm, (228.7 ± 17.1) µm and (170.3 ± 13.3) µm, respectively (all P < 0.05). The symmetry of Cypher stent was better than Firebird stent, and the symmetry of Firebird stent was better than Endeavor stent.
Conclusion: There was significant difference on neointimal coverage after various types of DES implantation, and OCT can be used to evaluate the symmetry of neointimal coverage post implantation of various DES.