ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>It was suggested that coronary stent design and coating may affect stent performance and hence induce varying degrees of thrombogenesis and neointimal hyperplasia. The purpose of this study is to compare the 6-month follow-up results between old and new Multilink stents with the method of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) imaging.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We have performed old (n = 40) and new (n = 35) Multilink stent implantations on 75 patients with coronary artery disease. Coronary angiography was performed before, immediately after, and 6 months after the in-stent procedure respectively. Six-month follow-up IVUS imaging was performed and analyzed off-line.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Minimal lumen cross sectional area (CSA) of new Multilink stents was significantly larger than that of old Multilink stents (P = 0.0053). Mean stent lumen area of new Multilink stents was significantly larger than that of old Multilink stents (P = 0.040). Similarly, minimal lumen diameter (MLD) of new Multilink stents was larger than that of old Multilink stents (P = 0.011). Old Multilink stents had a higher percentage of plaque area than new Multilink stents.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The new Multilink stent is obviously superior to old Multilink stents, in particular, in the stent MLD and lumen CSA--major determinants of the restenosis.</p>