Short-term effects of biocorrodible iron stents in porcine coronary arteries.
BACKGROUND
Biocorrodible iron stents carry the potential to overcome limitations, such as chronic inflammation and premature recoil, posed by biodegradable polymer and magnesium alloy stents. This study aimed to test the safety and efficacy of biocorrodible iron stents in porcine coronary arteries.


METHODS
Iron stents and cobalt chromium stents were randomly deployed in the coronary arteries of juvenile domestic pigs. Animals were sacrificed at 28 days, and the vessels were fixed and processed for histochemistry.


RESULTS
At 28 days, iron stents started to show signs of degradation without evidence of stent particle embolization or thrombosis without traces of excess inflammation, or fibrin deposition. At 28 days, the surface of the iron stent struts was black to brown and the vascular wall adjacent to the iron stent had a brownish tinge. There were no statistically significant differences in any of the measured parameters between segments implanted with iron and cobalt chromium stents. There were also no adverse effects in the persistent areas.


CONCLUSIONS
The current study demonstrates that stents made of biocorrodible iron are safe. In some of the measured parameters, such as intimal thickness, intimal area, and percentage occlusion, there was a trend in favor of the iron stents.
Waksman
Ron
R
Cardiovascular Research Institute, Washington Hospital Center, Washington, DC 20010, USA. ron.waksman@medstar.net
Pakala
Rajbabu
R
Baffour
Richard
R
Seabron
Rufus
R
Hellinga
David
D
Tio
Fermin O
FO
D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002857:Chromium; D003035:Cobalt; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000601:surgery*; D023903:Coronary Restenosis / Q000209:etiology; D003328:Coronary Thrombosis / Q000209:etiology; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000473:pathology*; D005337:Fibrin; D007249:Inflammation / Q000209:etiology; D058085:Iron Compounds; D015607:Stents / Q000009:adverse effects; D013552:Swine
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D058085:Iron Compounds; D002857:Chromium; D003035:Cobalt; D005337:Fibrin