Effect on intimal hyperplasia of dexamethasone released from coated metal stents compared with non-coated stents in canine femoral arteries.
OBJECTIVE
Polymer-coated, dexamethasone (DXM)-releasing stents were tested in order to assess the efficacy of DXM released locally for the prevention of stent restenosis due to intimal hyperplasia.


METHODS
Strecker stents coated with a biodegradable membrane containing DXM were implanted percutaneously into the femoral artery in 14 dogs. The contralateral artery received a conventional non-coated stent serving as control. The drugs are eluted by degradation of the carrier membrane. Follow-up intraarterial digital subtraction angiography (DSA) was obtained at 3, 6, 9, 12, and 24 weeks with subsequent autopsy. Specimens for gross and microscopic pathology were obtained and histomorphometry was performed.


RESULTS
Four of 14 DXM-coated stents showed thrombotic occlusion within the first 3 weeks; ten DXM-coated stents remained patent. At follow-up DSA, DXM-coated stents showed a significantly wider lumen than the non-coated stents. At morphometry there was less intimal hyperplasia over DXM-coated stents than over non-coated stents (p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
DXM-coated stents reduce neointimal hyperplasia in dogs when compared with non-coated stents.
Strecker
E P
EP
Department of Radiology, Diakonissen-Hospital, Karlsruhe, Germany.
Gabelmann
A
A
Boos
I
I
Lucas
C
C
Xu
Z
Z
Haberstroh
J
J
Freudenberg
N
N
Stricker
H
H
Langer
M
M
Betz
E
E
D000792:Angiography; D000800:Angioplasty, Balloon / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004285:Dogs; D004337:Drug Carriers; D005263:Femoral Artery; D006965:Hyperplasia / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016491:Peripheral Vascular Diseases / Q000628:therapy; D012016:Reference Values; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D015607:Stents / Q000009:adverse effects; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D004337:Drug Carriers; D003907:Dexamethasone