ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The problems of coronary stent thrombosis and restenosis still remain to be solved.The glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor blocker, Abciximab (ReoPro), plays important roles in the treatment of high-risk patient with acute platelet-rich thrombus and in the inhibition of smooth muscle cell proliferation. The aim of this study was to determine whether the use of ReoPro-coated stents could reduce the neointimal formation in a porcine coronary stent restenosis model. METHODS: ReoPro was coated on the surface of stent by means of plasma polymerization followed by chemical grafting. Stent overdilation injury was performed with control bare stent (Group I, n=13), and ReoPro-coated stents (Group II, n=14). Follow-up quantitative coronary angiogram was performed at 4 weeks after stenting and histopathologic assessment were compared in both groups. RESULTS: The diameter stenosis by QCA between two groups was significantly higher in Group I (23+/-5 % vs. 15+/-7 %, p=0.003). On histopathologic examination, no in-stent thrombus was observed. The percent area stenosis was significantly higher in Group I than in Group II (48+/-17 % vs. 30+/-16 %, p=0.01). The area of neoinima was larger in Group I than in Group II (3.2+/-1.2 mm2 vs. 2.0+/-1.0 mm2, p=0.01). By immunocytochemistry, proliferation cell nuclear antigen indices were higher in Group I (4.2+/-2.1 %, vs 2.4+/-1.8 % p=0.03). CONCLUSION: The ReoPro-coated stent is safe and effective in the prevention of in-stent thrombus and restenosis, which may be related with the inhibition of platelet thrombus and neointimal cell proliferation.