on December 29, 2005
Published online before print December 29, 2005, doi: 10.1161/01.STR.0000199080.94177.ba
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Submitted on March 25, 2005
From the Departments of Diagnostic Radiology (G.T., F.R., C.D.C., S.H.D.) and Pathology (M.W.), University of Tuebingen, Germany; the Schering Company (P.M., L.M.D.), Berlin, Germany; the Department of Internal Medicine (M.L.), Charité, Berlin, Germany; and Cordis (H.T.), a Johnson & Johnson Company, Warren, NJ, and Waterloo, Belgium. * To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: gunnar.tepe{at}med.uni-tuebingen.de.
Background and Purpose--To test the feasibility of self-expanding drug-coated nitinol stents for prevention of restenosis in an animal model. Stent implantation in the carotid artery (CA) has been shown to be feasible for treatment of CA stenosis. Even though the restenosis rate in CA is reported to be lower than in the coronary and peripheral arteries, problems may arise with increasing numbers of treated patients and lengthier follow-up. Methods--After predilatation with 8-mm balloons, 8 Goettinger minipigs were randomly selected to receive a sirolimus-eluting self-expanding nitinol stent (7 mm/80 mm) as well as the same stent without sirolimus/polymer coating in the right or left CA. Aspirin was given starting 3 days before the intervention and administered for an additional 4 weeks. Clopidogrel was administered for 10 days. Results--After 6 weeks, 2 subacute occlusions were observed in both groups. In the remaining vessels, the neointima was significantly reduced by sirolimus/polymer-coated stents (5.9±2.5 versus 0.7±1.0 mm2). Conclusions--Sirolimus self-expanding nitinol stents may be an effective tool in reducing neointimal formation in CA.
Revised on June 20, 2005
Accepted on June 22, 2005
Prevention of Carotid Artery Restenosis After Sirolimus-Coated Stent Implantation in Pigs
Gunnar Tepe MD*;
Key words: atherosclerosis • carotid arteries • stents