Objectives: This study sought to assess clinical, angiographic, and intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) findings in patients developing coronary aneurysms (CANs) after drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation.
Background: The long-term safety of DES remains unsettled.
Methods: This study analyzed 1,197 consecutive patients with late angiographic evaluation after DES implantation. In 15 patients (1.25%, 95% confidence interval: 0.58 to 1.93), CANs developed at follow-up. Analyses included quantitative angiography and volumetric IVUS.
Results: DES developing CANs were more frequently implanted during acute myocardial infarction and were longer than those without this outcome. The elapsed time from DES implantation to CAN diagnosis was 313 +/- 194 days. Angiographically, maximal CAN diameter measured 5.1 +/- 1.2 mm. On IVUS, CAN external elastic lamina area was 32 +/- 13.1 mm(2) and incomplete apposition area was 12.1 +/- 8.6 mm(2). Two patients presented with acute myocardial infarction secondary to DES thrombosis. Four additional patients presented with unstable angina and underwent CAN aggressive dilation (3 were also treated for concomitant in-stent restenosis). Dual antiplatelet therapy was recommended in the remaining 9 patients who were asymptomatic at CAN diagnosis, but 1 of them eventually died of cardiogenic shock after a CAN-related myocardial infarction. After a mean follow-up of 399 +/- 347 days, the 1-year event-free survival was 49 +/- 14% and was related to CAN size on IVUS. In 2 patients, CANs disappeared at repeated late angiography and IVUS showed abluminal CAN thrombosis.
Conclusions: After DES implantation, CANs are rare and may be detected in asymptomatic patients. However, CANs are frequently associated with adverse clinical events as a result of DES restenosis and DES thrombosis. Further studies are required to determine the implications of this distinct new entity.