Recent or future developments in coronary stenting include:

Researchers are also finding that coronary stenting, in addition to being an effective revascularization technique, has an ability to “seal” unstable plaque. Newer imaging techniques have allowed for plaque to be classified as homogeneous or heterogeneous. Homogeneous plaque is typically white, has a smooth surface and is basically the same texture throughout. Heterogeneous plaque is yellowish and has an irregular surface with areas of hemorrhage. Studies have found that heterogeneous plaque is the likely culprit in the risk of plaque rupture and subsequent heart attack or stroke.

Research suggests that stent placement may make plaque more stable and, therefore, less likely to rupture. Patients undergoing stenting following a heart attack typically have mostly yellow-colored plaque, with protruding blood clots. After stenting, the blood clots disappear. By six months, a new layer of cells formed over the stent, with the plaque now classified as white and smooth.

For people with diabetes, whose condition increases the risk of restenosis, rosiglitazone has shown benefit in stenting. Rosiglitazone is a type of thiazolidinedione (TZD), a newer class of drug used to decrease blood sugar levels in diabetes. Elevated blood sugar levels can cause a variety of health problems, including damage to the eyes, kidneys, nerves and blood vessels. Damage to the blood vessels contributes to the thickening of their walls, causes leakage, aids in the buildup of fatty materials in the blood and fosters excess plaque growth in the arteries. By helping to minimize this process, rosiglitazone may help to reduce restenosis. Other studies, however, find that TZDs may pose an increased risk of symptoms in individuals with heart failure or impaired kidney function.