To compare coronary healing after optical coherence tomography guided versus conventionally angiography guided percutaneous coronary intervention with the Magmaris bioresorbable scaffold.

BACKGROUND:

Bioresorbable scaffolds (BRS) represent a novel approach during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), which provides transient vessel support with drug-delivery capability without the long-term limitations (very late stent thrombosis) of the metallic drug-eluting stents. Patients with Non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) often feature thrombus-rich lesions with large necrotic core, which may be associated with delayed arterial healing and impaired stent-related outcomes. Besides clinical indication and underlying plaque morphology, sufficient and potent strut coverage depends on several additional factors (patient characteristics, stent type and procedural factors). Particularly, acute incomplete stent apposition is a strong procedural risk factor for later deficient neointimal coverage. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a high-resolution intravascular imaging modality, that enables in-vivo evaluation of the immediate stenting result, and the vascular healing pattern including strut coverage at follow-up.

AIM:

The objective of this study is to investigate if OCT-guided Magmaris BRS implantation in patients with NSTEMI can improve the coronary arterial healing at 6 months compared to routine angiographic guidance only. Further to investigate if the plaque composition/lipid content will influence on the vascular healing.

METHOD:

The study is designed as a prospective, randomized trial. After pre-dilation, patients will be randomly assigned to either: (1) OCT-guided PCI, or (2) angio-guided PCI with Magmaris BRS implantation. In the OCT-guided group, OCT will be used for vessel and BRS sizing. After Magmaris BRS implantation the result will be controlled with OCT and: 1) BRS under expansion and/or, 2) strut malapposition and/or, 3) edge dissection- and/or 4) residual stenosis at the distal and/or proximal reference segment(s) that may require further intervention. A final OCT will be performed in case of re-intervention.

In the angio-guided group an OCT will be performed only after angiography final and acceptable result.

A follow-up OCT will be performed after 6 months in all patients to assess the vascular healing and a vasomotor test will be performed in half of the patients. After 12 months the dynamic changes in vascular healing will be assessed in the first enrolled half of the patients.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients with NSTEMI undergoing subacute PCI in native vessels and to be treated with one or more drug eluting stents in coronary arteries due to a visually assessed significant culprit lesion with > 50% of coronary stenosis at the catheterization laboratory in Odense.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients participating in other randomized stent studies.
• Expected survival < 1 year.
• Allergy to aspirin, ticagrelor, clopidogrel and prasugrel.
• Allergy to Sirolimus.
• Aorta-ostial lesions (cannot be cleared with flush by OCT).
• Serum creatinine > 150 ug/L due to the required amount of X-ray contrast by OCT.
• Twisted coronary vessels where the PCI-operator estimates that the introduction of an OCT and / or NIRS catheter will not be possible or will be associated with increased risk.
• Lesion length > 28 mm.