Background: Although edge stenosis (ES) is a main limitation of drug-eluting stents, the predictors for ES are not well known. We evaluated the predictors for ES after paclitaxel-eluting stent implantation.
Methods: One hundred and eleven angina patients (64 men; 62.2±8.4 years of age) were divided into ES (n=9) and non-ES groups (n=102). The clinical findings, procedural factors, and intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) parameters were analyzed.
Results: Although clinical characteristics were not different between groups, diabetes mellitus (DM) was more common in the ES group (P=0.002). The vessel, plaque, and lumen areas of the lesions were not different between groups; however, the vessel area of the proximal and distal reference artery was smaller in the ES group. Lesions with positive remodeling were more common in the ES group (P=0.015). On the basis of univariate analysis, predictors of ES included DM, lesions with positive remodeling, IVUS parameters, and procedural factors. After adjusting for clinical findings, angiographic factors, and IVUS parameters, the presence of DM [odds ratio (OR): 9.20; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.40-60.62, P=0.021] and lesions with positive remodeling (OR: 5.93; 95% CI: 1.13-31.02, P=0.035) were independent predictors of ES. The lumen area in the distal 1 mm reference segment was a protective factor for ES (OR: 0.05; 95% CI: 0.00-0.74, P=0.029).
Conclusion: The risk of ES after paclitaxel-eluting stent implantation was higher in patients who had DM and lesions with positive remodeling. Of the IVUS parameters, the lumen area in the distal 1 mm reference segment was a protective factor against ES.