T-wave alternans and intraventricular conduction delays.

ross-sections, additional special factors, such as discontinuation of ntiplatelet therapy, antiplatelet resistance, intrinsic thrombogeicity, or coronary flow problems might trigger the development f LST. In comparison with previous data of 3-month follow-up (paients n 21, struts n 4,545) (3), thickness of NIH in the 2-year ollow-up group was greater than that in the 3-month follow-up roup (71 93 m vs. 29 41 m, respectively; p 0.00001). requency of uncovered struts was lower in the 2-year group than n the 3-month group (5% vs. 15%, respectively; p 0.00001). oreover, the prevalence of patients with cross-section(s) of ncovered strut ratio 0.3 was lower in the 2-year group than in he 3-month group (38% vs. 76%, respectively) (Fig. 2). Clinical haracteristics were similar between the 2 groups. From this erspective, neointimal coverage inside the SES progressed, and ncovered stent struts decreased from 3-month to 2-year followp. In contrast, prevalence of patients with uncovered struts did ot differ between the 3-month group and the 2-year group (95% s. 81%, respectively) (Fig. 2). Despite the fact that neointimal overage advanced, a few troublesome stent struts might persist as ncovered struts for up to 2 years. Two thrombi inside the SES were identified in patients who did ot have an uncovered strut. Cross-sectional OCT images might ave a limitation in identification of the uncovered struts under n-stent thrombi. Intracoronary structures inside the SES, except or distinct thrombi, were regarded as NIH in this OCT analysis. owever, it was possible that some tissue of fluffy appearance Fig. 1) was not NIH but was actually fibrin deposition. Unfortuately, no method of distinguishing fibrin layer from NIH around he struts in living patients has been established. Additionally, here is no confirmation that morphological intracoronary strucures have mature endothelial function, such as an antithrombotic unction. Although OCT is used, evaluation for the uncovered truts might be underestimated in the situation of fibrin deposition Figure 2 Prevalence of Patients With Uncovered Struts