title: [Coronary artery atherosclerotic plaque and stent visualizations by optical coherence tomography].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate coronary artery atherosclerotic plaque characteristics and changes post coronary stenting by optical coherence tomography (OCT).
  
  
  METHODS
  OCT images were obtained in 22 diseased coronary vessels after coronary angiography or percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) in 20 patients and in 23 stents [7 sirolimus-eluting stents (SES) follow up at 4-29 months post stenting and 8 bare mental stents (BMS) at 4-35 months post stenting, 8 stents immediately after PCI].
  
  
  RESULTS
  All 22 vessels and 23 stents OCT images were successfully acquired. Two thromboses, 8 fibrous, 9 lipid-rich and 3 calcium plaques as well as 3 plaque ruptures were visualized by OCT. No significant neointimal proliferation and restenosis were found in SES stents and some struts were not covered with neointima even at 29 months post stenting. Significant neointimal proliferation on surfaces of stent struts were visualized in all 8 BMS stents and restenosis was detected in 3 BMS stents. OCT images obtained immediately after PCI showed that 3 stents were well positioned, tissue prolapse between coronary stent struts occurred in 4 stents and stent dissociation with vessel wall could be seen in 1 stent.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  OCT imaging can clearly visualize different types of atherosclerotic plaques. By providing detailed information on plaque characteristics, this technique might help cardiologists in choosing suitable stents and guiding preventive therapy for patients with coronary heart disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Beijing Electric Power Hospital, Beijing 100073, China. chbux@sohu.com
authors.forename: Bu-xing
authors.initials: BX
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Feng-yun
authors.initials: FY
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Wen-li
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Xi-zhe
authors.initials: XZ
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Shu-hong
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Xu-mei
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Xiao-wen
authors.initials: XW
authors.lastname: Chu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy*; D054855:Drug-Eluting Stents; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D020123:Sirolimus / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015607:Stents; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence
chemical_list: D020123:Sirolimus