Intra-stent Tissue Evaluation Within BMS and DES > 3 Years Since Implantation

Intra-stent Tissue Evaluation Within BMS and DES > 3 Years Since Implantation

This study aims to test the hypothesis that plaque composition differs within a stent between bare metal stents and drug eluting stents (DES). It is possible that a difference in plaque composition seen within a stent may be contributory to the late thrombotic events seen more frequently with DES.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Subject > 18 years of age;
• Subject, male or female, who underwent DES or BMS implantation in a native coronary vessel more than 3 year ago;
• Subject is scheduled for a diagnostic coronary or interventional procedure;
• Subject is willing to sign the informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Subject requires emergency catheterization;
• Subject has an acute myocardial infarction defined as anginal symptoms with ST-elevation on the EKG or creatine kinase-MB elevation >3times the upper limit of normal;
• Angiographic evidence of ≥ 70% stenosis within the target stent (visual estimate);
• Subject presented with cardiogenic shock;
• Subject has angiographically confirmed thrombus in the target coronary artery;
• Subject has a complex lesion not amenable to the IVUS/VH catheters and/or OCT catheters passing the stented segment;
• Subject has a contraindication to angiography/IVUS/OCT;
• Female subject is pregnant or lactating;
• Subject has life threatening comorbid conditions for which the investigator feels the subject should not be enrolled