Elastic recoil and intimal thickening after coronary stenting.

In this study, the long-term elastic recoil of the stents and the intimal thickening over the stents were evaluated separately. Twenty-nine patients who received a Wiktor coronary stent were angiographically followed-up at 2 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months. The elastic recoil of the stent was evaluated by the changes in minimum stent diameter. The intimal thickness was evaluated by the difference between minimum stent diameter and minimum lumen diameter. Minimum stent diameter showed no significant change up to 6 months. The significant increase (P < 0.05) of the intimal thickness was detected only between 2 weeks and 3 months. In conclusion, the Wiktor stent prevented the elastic recoil up to 6 months, and was covered by the neointima which increased its thickness mainly between 2 weeks and 3 months after stenting. It was suggested that stent restenosis was not caused by the elastic recoil, but by the intimal thickening.