Effects of combined therapy with ezetimibe plus simvastatin after drug-eluting stent implantation in a porcine coronary restenosis model

The aim of this study was to examine the anti-proliferative and anti-inflammatory effects of ezetimibe/simvastatin (E/S) after drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation in a porcine coronary restenosis model. Pigs were randomized into two groups in which the coronary arteries (23 pigs) had DES. Stents were deployed with oversizing (stent/ artery ratio 1.3:1) in porcine coronary arteries. Fifteen pigs were taken 10/20 mg of E/S and eight pigs were not taken E/S. Histopathologic analysis was assessed at 28 days after stenting. In neointima, most inflammatory cells were lymphohistiocytes. Lymphohistiocyte count was not different between two groups (337±227 vs. 443± 366 cells, P=0.292), but neointima area was significantly smaller (1.00±0.49 mm₂ vs. 1.69±0.98 mm₂, P=0.021) and percent area stenosis was significantly lower (23.3±10% vs. 39±19%, P=0.007) in E/S group compared with control group. There were no significant differences in fibrin score (1.99±0.79 vs. 1.81±0.88, P= 0.49), endothelial score (1.75±0.66 vs. 1.80±0.59, P=0.79), and the percent of endothelium covered lumen (43±21% vs. 45±21%, P=0.84) between E/S group and control group. Combined therapy with ezetimibe and simvastatin inhibits neointimal hyperplasia, but does not inhibit inflammatory infiltration and arterial healing after DES implantation in a porcine coronary restenosis model.