837 complete magnesium bioresorbable scaffold absorption at 1-year of intracoronary imaging follow up

Abstract Background the development of bioresorbable scaffolds (BRSs) has been conceived as revolution in interventional cardiology for the prospective improvements in the treatment of coronary artery disease. However, metallic drug eluting stent (DES) demonstrated greater safety and efficacy than bioresorbable vascular scaffold (BVS) Absorb in dedicated trials culminating in the commercial withdrawal of Absorb device in 2017. Nevertheless, the progressive absorption of the scaffold and the restoration of physiological coronary artery characteristics attracted attention, so currently research on BRSs is in progress. Case presentation a 58-year-old woman was admitted in our department after an episode of typical angina at rest without significant troponin elevation. The electrocardiogram showed T wave inversion in lateral leads. Hypokinesia of distal septum and anterior wall and mildly reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF 50%) were observed on echocardiography. Her cardiovascular risk factors included obesity, arterial hypertension, dyslipidaemia, family history of ischemic heart disease and former smoking. Her past medical history was remarkable for chronic kidney disease (CKD EPI eGFR 50 ml/min) and previous connective tissue disease. Coronary angiography highlighted a critical stenosis in the middle segment of left anterior descending artery (LAD). Optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging showed recanalized and organized throumbus and calcific plaques. After adequate predilatation and stent sizing by OCT, a 3×25 mm Magnesium-based BVS (Magmaris, Biotronik AG, Buelach, Switzerland) was implanted. OCT confirmed good expansion and apposition of the stent after postdilatation. Patient was discharged on dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) for 12 months, anti-remodeling cardiac and lipid-lowering therapy. One year later, the patient underwent and elective coronary angiography and OCT control showing a complete reabsorption of the Magmaris BVS with positive remodelling and luminal enlargement of the vessel. The patient was asymptomatic throughout the year with a good performance status. Conclusion The present case illustrates an example of imaging-based revascularization with BVS Magmaris and optimal intracoronary imaging result at 1 year follow up in agreement with the last available evidence. The last European Society of Cardiology/European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery Guidelines on myocardial revascularization recommends the use of BVS only in the context of clinical controlled studies. However, encouraging results obtained and what expected from the current studies with Magmaris scaffolds, might change indications considering the potential benefit about the restoration of natural vasomotion, the reduced risk of neoatherosclerosis and the positive vascular remodelling following the scaffold absorption.