Noninvasive evaluation of coronary endothelial function following sirolimus-eluting stent implantation by using positron emission tomography.
OBJECTIVE
Several invasive studies have reported delayed reendothelialization and endothelial dysfunction following sirolimus-eluting stent (SES) implantation. We evaluated the changes in coronary endothelial function following SES implantation by using a noninvasive method that involved positron emission tomography and cold pressor testing (CPT).


METHODS
The study was conducted on 14 lesions on which percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) was successively performed. The lesions were classified into 2 groups depending on the PCI performed: the conventional PCI group, in which 7 conventional PCIs (plain old balloon angioplasty or bare-metal stents) were performed, and the SES group, in which 7 SESs were implanted. Coronary endothelial function was defined as the percent increase in the myocardial blood flow (MBF) during CPT.


RESULTS
The resting MBF in the segments distal to the PCI sites did not differ between the conventional PCI and SES groups; however, the MBF significantly decreased in the SES group during CPT.


CONCLUSIONS
These data suggest that SES implantation induces coronary endothelial dysfunction in the segments distal to the PCI sites.
Horigome
Mitsuaki
M
Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Shinshu University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagano, Japan.
Kumazaki
Setsuo
S
Hattori
Naoya
N
Kasai
Hiroki
H
Horigome
Miki
M
Aizawa
Kazunori
K
Izawa
Atsushi
A
Tomita
Takeshi
T
Tsutsui
Hiroshi
H
Koyama
Jun
J
Sakurai
Shunpei
S
Ikeda
Uichi
U
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation; D003080:Cold Temperature; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D003326:Coronary Circulation; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D054855:Drug-Eluting Stents; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D020123:Sirolimus / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D020123:Sirolimus