Differential Response of Delayed Healing and Persistent Inflammation at Sites of Overlapping Sirolimus- or Paclitaxel-Eluting Stents

Compared with bare metal stents, drug-eluting stents further delay arterial healing and promote inflammation at sites of overlap. Taxus stents induced greater fibrin deposition, medial cell loss, heterophils/eosinophils, and late neointimal hyperplasia. Patients receiving overlapping drug-eluting stents need more frequent follow-up than patients with nonoverlapping stents.