Acute two-vessel occlusion due to simultaneous very late stent thrombosis following sirolimus-eluting stent implantation: a case report and review of the literature

Introduction

Very late stent thrombosis (VLST; > 1 year) is a rare but fatal complication due to acute vessel closure. Several factors, including procedure, lesion and patient discontinuation of antiplatelet therapy, are most closely related to its occurrence [1]. Furthermore, neoatherosclerotic plaque rupture is now acknowledged as a potential contributing factor [2]. Although similar rates of early and late stent thrombosis were observed between drug-eluting stent (DES) and bare metal stent (BMS) [3]. Very late stent thrombosis occurs with higher frequency in DES [4]. However, it is even rarer to have a simultaneous two-vessel very late stent thrombosis with a sirolimus-eluting stent (SES), and studies on the pathogeny are lacking.

We report the case of a patient presenting with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and cardiogenic shock who experienced simultaneous VLST in two vessels which occurred 40 months after sirolimus-eluting stent implantation.

Case report

A 56-year-old man presented to the emergency department with severe chest pain within 4 h after onset of symptoms. The ECG showed an ST-segment elevation in I, aVL and V6–V9 (Figure 1). The patient had undergone percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in our catheter lab using sirolimus-eluting stents (Firebird, MicroPort) in the left anterior descending (LAD) (3.0 × 33 mm; 16 atm) and in the left circumflex artery (LCX) (2.75 × 33 mm; 10 atm) 40 months prior to admission. Also, 35 months prior to admission, an intervention in a de novo lesion of the right coronary artery (RCA) using an SES (Firebird, MicroPort; 4.0 × 23 mm; 9 atm) followed by balloon angioplasty was performed. At this point in time, no evidence of restenosis was found in the former lesion of the LAD or LCX. Anti-platelet therapy consisting of 100 mg aspirin and 75 mg clopidogrel was prescribed for an intended period of 12 months following percutaneous intervention.

Figure 1.

ECG at time of admission

Cardiac catheterization revealed a thrombotic occlusion at the site of the stent implanted in the LAD as well as at the site of the stent in the LCX (Figure 2 A). A temporary pacemaker was inserted, then crossing the lesions of LCX with a guidewire, thrombus aspiration was performed using a thrombus aspiration device (Thrombuster II, KANEKA) starting in the LCX. Intracoronary abciximab followed by intravenous infusion was administered. The angiographic result showed Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) 3 flow in the vessel. During the procedure, the patient had cardiac arrest due to ventricular fibrillation (VF). After defibrillation with 360 J, sinus rhythm was restored.

Figure 2.

A – Coronary angiogram showed the left anterior descending and left circumflex artery thrombotic mid stent occlusion (white arrow). B – Coronary angiogram showed no residual stenosis and relatively good distal flow in two vessels

We proceeded with PCI for the LAD lesion, the proximal LAD lesion was crossed with a wire and predilated with a 2.5 × 20 mm balloon (Sprinter Legend, Medtronic; 8 atm), and we deployed a 3.0 × 23 mm Firebird at 14 atm of pressure for 10 s with a good angiographic result. The patient was kept on an intra-aortic balloon pump overnight.

During the patient's hospitalization, we performed intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) to further evaluate the cause of thrombus. The IVUS (iLab, Boston Scientific, USA) of the lesions demonstrated late stent malapposition, with positive coronary vessel remodeling around the stent in LAD and LCX (Figure 3). Subsequently, we used a 3.0 × 10 mm balloon (Hiryu, Terumo; 16 atm) to postdilate the stent and deployed a 3.0 × 18 mm Firebird stent at 16 atm of pressure to cover the previous stent in LCX, giving a good end result (Figure 2 B). The patient was rehospitalized for heart failure 1 month after discharge.

Figure 3.

A – Coronary angiography showed peri-stent contrast staining at the site of LAD DES (white arrow). B – IVUS showed late stent malapposition in the LAD (white arrow). C – Coronary angiography showed peristent contrast staining at the site of LCX DES (white arrow). D – IVUS showed late stent malapposition in the LCX (white arrow)

Discussion and review of the literature

The incidence of VLST appears to be between 0.4% and 0.6% per year in the literature [5], which can lead to high mortality [6]. The mechanism is not fully understood. Delayed endothelialization and polymer induced inflammation [7], stent fracture [8], late stent malapposition, stent underexpansion [9], incomplete neointimal coverage over stent struts, and neoatherosclerotic plaque rupture [2] may play a vital role in the progression of VLST. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of simultaneously VLST occurring at the site of stents in LAD and LCX 40 months after SES implantation in Chinese patients. Late acquired incomplete stent apposition (LAISA) was identified by IVUS.

Previous studies demonstrated that VLST occurred more frequently in DES than in BMS [4]. Togni et al. [10] reported that paradoxical exercise-induced vasoconstriction occurred in both proximal and distal segments of the vessel adjacent to SESs but did not occur in the BMS vessel. Drug-induced endothelial dysfunction was considered a contributor to VLST. Inoue et al. [11] found fibrin deposition and infiltration of chronic inflammatory cells around the SES struts, which might be followed by VLST. Furthermore, Caixeta et al. also reported a case of VLST in a BMS induced by a severe malapposition and underexpansion [9]. This suggests that besides the drug, other factors can also cause VLST.

Nakazawa et al. [12] studied the coronary responses and differential mechanisms of VLST attributed to SES and paclitaxel-eluting stent (PES). In this study, the incidence of VLST did not differ significantly between SES and PES (21% vs. 27%, p = 0.47). But for SES, localized hypersensitivity reactions and inflammation which result in positive remodeling of the vessel and malapposition are the primary contributors. In contrast, VLST in PES was attributed to malapposition secondary to excessive fibrin deposition on the abluminal surface. Recently Yamawaki et al. [13] reported a case of simultaneous VLST of both LAD and LCX after implantation of two SESs. Intravascular ultrasound showed LAISA of two vessels. But in the RCA which was implanted with PES, IVUS did not show such a finding. The IVUS finding demonstrated “different vascular reactions” to “different types of DES”.

Reported cases of VLST occurring in second-generation DES in the literature are rare. Puri et al. [14] reported a case of simultaneous two-vessel VLST after everolimus-eluting stent (EES) implantation. Intravascular ultrasound showed stent malapposition with positive remodeling of the vessel wall. A previous study [15] indicated that the incidence of late acquired Peri-stent contrast staining (PSS) with EES was lower than that with SES. Peri-stent contrast staining has been reported to be associated with VLST. However, it remains to be determined whether there is a difference between EES and SES in the occurrence of VLST.

A previous report [16] indicated two possible mechanisms contributing to LAISA: regional positive remodeling with an increase in vessel area out of proportion to the increase in plaque area; or thrombus dissolution in the case of primary angioplasty. The potential therapeutic effect associated with correction of late incomplete stent apposition is unknown, and whether prolonged dual antiplatelet therapy can decrease the incidence of VLST is also uncertain.

Conclusions

This case report illustrates mechanisms of VLST after stent implantation. Late acquired incomplete stent apposition played a significant role after SES implantation. The occurrence of VLST in different types of stent, including BMS, SES, PES and EES, varied. Angiography with intravascular ultrasound can be used to identify VLST and LAISA.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.