Qualitative and quantitative neointimal characterization by optical coherence tomography in patients presenting with in-stent restenosis

Aims To describe optical coherence tomography (OCT) findings in patients with in-stent restenosis (ISR) and determine predictors of neointimal patterns and neoatherosclerosis. Methods and results Patients undergoing OCT prior to PCI for ISR in three European centres were included. Analyses were performed in a core laboratory. Qualitative and quantitative [gray-scale signal intensity (GSI)] neointima analyses were performed on a per quadrant basis. A total of 107 patients were included. Predominantly homogeneous lesions included 4.5% (0.0–14.3) non-homogeneous quadrants, while predominantly non-homogeneous ones included 28.1% (20.3–37.5) homogeneous quadrants. Mean GSI values differed significantly between homogeneous [108.4 (92.5–123.6)], non-homogeneous [79.9 (61.2–95.9)], and neoatherosclerosis [88.3 (72.8–104.9)] quadrants ( p