Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) Evaluation of Re-endothelization: A Comparison of the Intrepide™ Stent Versus Taxus™

OCT Evaluation of Stent Struts Re-endothelization in Patients With Acute Coronary Syndromes: a Comparison of the Intrepide™ Stent vs. Taxus™

Patients presenting with ACS (Acute Coronary Syndrome) in the emergency department will be screened for clinical eligibility and asked to sign informed consent to the study.

A total of 40 patients will be randomized. 20 of them will receive a Trapidil eluting stent (Intrepide™ stent), 20 will receive a Paclitaxel eluting stent (Taxus™ stent). After 90 days the patients who were treated with the INTREPIDE stent in the first lesion will be treated with the Taxus stent in the second lesion. After 90 days the patients who were treated with the Taxus stent in the first lesion will be treated with the INTREPIDE stent in the second lesion.

Coronary angiography will be performed through the femoral (groin) or radial (wrist) artery with the use of standard techniques. The doctor will determine if the patient is qualified for enrolment at the end of the diagnostic coronary angiogram

Inclusion Criteria:

Clinical

• >18 years of age,
• symptoms of non ST-elevation ACS (defined by the ACC/AHA criteria) for 30 min but <48 h
• Patient must provide written informed consent prior to the procedure using a form that is approved by the local Institutional Review Board

Angiographic

• reference vessel diameter of culprit/target lesion between 2.25 to 3.5 mm (visual estimate)
• discrete target lesion (maximum length of 28 mm by visual estimation)
• target lesion is in a native coronary artery
• presence of another lesion more than 70% in a vessel different from the culprit one amenable of planned percutaneous treatment 90 days thereafter.

Exclusion Criteria:

Clinical

• previously documented left ventricular ejection fraction of less than 30%
• estimated life expectancy of less than 12 months
• a history of bleeding diathesis, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, or severe hepatic or renal dysfunction
• participation in another study
• inability to give informed consent owing to prolonged cardiopulmonary resuscitation
• and dominant Renal impairment (serum creatinine > 2.0 mg/dl) Angiographic
• non-culprit lesion located in the proximal LAD or in a proximal and dominant Circumflex artery
• previous PCI of the target vessels restenosis or stent thrombosis as culprit lesion
• unprotected left main coronary artery disease
• non-culprit lesion located in a vein graft
• severe multivessel disease (three major epicardial vessel disease) need of overlapping stenting for one lesion