title: Comparison of short- and long-term results of drug-eluting vs. bare metal stenting in the porcine internal carotid artery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the development of neointimal hyperplasia after implantation of drug-eluting stents (paclitaxel) compared to bare metal stents in porcine internal carotid arteries (ICAs).
  
  
  METHODS
  While drug-eluting stents have effectively reduced neointimal proliferation in porcine external carotid arteries, the porcine internal carotid artery (ICA) is more sensitive to shear stress and altered flow conditions. Thus, a study was conducted to evaluate bare vs. drug-eluting stents in porcine ICAs. Under general anesthesia, 18 domestic pigs were implanted with paclitaxel-eluting (n = 18) and bare (n = 18) stents in the left and right ICAs, respectively. After 1 and 3 months, control carotid angiography was performed, followed by histopathological and histomorphometric analyses of the stented ICA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Histopathological results (fibrin deposition, necrosis, inflammation) were similar in the groups at 1 and 3 months. Moreover, the injury score and rate of endothelialization did not differ between the groups. Histomorphometric analysis after 1 month revealed significantly (p<0.05) less neointimal hyperplasia after implantation of paclitaxel-eluting stents. The antiproliferative effect of paclitaxel-eluting stents were maintained during the 3-month follow-up: the neointimal area was 0.7 ± 0.5 vs. 1.2 ± 0.6 mm(2) (p<0.01), the area stenosis was 23.5% ± 13.9% vs. 37.8% ± 14.4% (p<0.01), the maximal neointimal thickness was 0.2 ± 0.1 vs. 0.2 ± 0.9 mm (p<0.05) in paclitaxel-eluting vs. bare stents, respectively. Implantation of paclitaxel-eluting and bare stents did not lead to edge restenosis or vessel remodeling in porcine ICAs at 1 or 3 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Compared to bare metal stents, drug-eluting stents implanted in the porcine ICA produced significantly less neointimal hyperplasia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, KA Rudolfstiftung, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schwarzmaier-D'Assie
authors.forename: Noemi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nyolczas
authors.forename: Rayyan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hemetsberger
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Strehblow
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Matiasek
authors.forename: Serdar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Farhan
authors.forename: Zsolt
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Petrasi
authors.forename: Kurt
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Huber
authors.forename: Johann
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wojta
authors.forename: Dietmar
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Glogar
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Plass
authors.forename: Mariann
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gyöngyösi
authors.forename: Ronald
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Karnik
mesh_terms: D000800:Angioplasty, Balloon / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D000818:Animals; D002317:Cardiovascular Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002343:Carotid Artery, Internal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D054855:Drug-Eluting Stents; D006965:Hyperplasia; D008670:Metals; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D011859:Radiography; D015607:Stents; D034421:Sus scrofa; D013997:Time Factors; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D002317:Cardiovascular Agents; D008670:Metals; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D017239:Paclitaxel