Effect of abciximab-coated stent on in-stent intimal hyperplasia in human coronary arteries

The investigators tested whether abciximab-coated stents prevent neointimal hyperplasia (NIH) formation in coronary de novo lesions. Abciximab-coated stents were compared with control stents. All patients underwent follow-up coronary angiography and intravascular ultrasound (IVUS). All stents were successfully deployed, and patients were discharged home without clinical events. At follow-up coronary angiography, the restenosis rate and late loss were 14% and 0.33 ± 0.28 mm in the abciximab-coated stent group and 28.6% and 0.64 ± 0.32 mm in the control stent group (p = 0.099 and p = 0.014, respectively). At follow-up IVUS, the intrastent luminal area and intrastent NIH area were 5.7 ± 1.6 and 2.0 ± 1.6 mm2, respectively, in the abciximab-coated stent group and 4.2 ± 0.8 and 3.4 ± 1.7 mm2, respectively, in the control stent group (p = 0.001 and p = 0.001, respectively). Abciximab-coated stents are feasible and significantly inhibit NIH, with potential therapeutic benefit in preventing stent restenosis.