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Updated: Feb 26, 2026
Imaging In-Stent Restenosis: An Inexpensive, Reliable, and Rapid Preclinical Model
Published on: September 14, 2009
Dynamic neointimal pattern after drug-eluting stent implantation defined by optical coherence tomography
Erika Yamamoto1, Lei Xing, Takumi Higuma
1aCardiology Division bBiostatistics Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston cDepartment of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA dDivision of Cardiology, Kyung Hee University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Homogeneous neointima is most common after drug-eluting stents. Neointimal patterns can change over time, with some progressing to neoatherosclerosis, highlighting the need for further research.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Research
- Medical Imaging
- Interventional Cardiology
Background:
- Neointimal hyperplasia is a common response to stenting.
- Certain neointimal patterns, including neoatherosclerosis (NA), are linked to adverse clinical outcomes.
- Systematic studies on the prevalence and temporal evolution of neointimal patterns post-stenting are limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the serial changes in neointimal patterns following drug-eluting stent implantation.
- To assess the prevalence and time course of different neointimal morphologies.
- To evaluate the transition between neointimal patterns over 12 months.
Main Methods:
- 132 patients with 207 drug-eluting stents were analyzed.
- Optical coherence tomography (OCT) was used for serial imaging at 6 and 12 months.
- Neointimal patterns (homogeneous, heterogeneous, layered, NA) were categorized and analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively.
Main Results:
- Homogeneous neointima was the predominant pattern (>75%) at both 6 and 12 months.
- Between 6 and 12 months, 10.6% of stents showed changes in neointimal pattern.
- Progression to NA occurred in 0.6-5.6% of cases, while regression to homogeneous neointima was observed in 5.6-11.5% of cases.
Conclusions:
- Homogeneous neointima is the most frequent pattern observed post-stenting.
- Neointimal patterns exhibit dynamic changes between 6 and 12 months after implantation.
- Further research is required to elucidate the mechanisms and clinical implications of these neointimal transformations.
