Drug-eluting stents reduce subsequent MI frequency and mortality
News Date: 02/21/2007
Outlet: Reuters Health
Contact: Douglas, David

Clinical

Drug-eluting stents reduce subsequent MI frequency and mortality

Last Updated 2007-02-21 15 44 49 -0400 (Reuters Health)

By David Douglas

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Compared to use of bare metal stents in percutaneous coronary intervention, employing sirolimus- or paclitaxel-eluting stents leads to a reduction in later myocardial infarctions and mortality rates, North Carolina-based researchers report in the February 1st issue of the American Journal of Cardiology. 'Our study aim,' lead investigator Dr. Robert J. Applegate told Reuters Health, 'was to compare outcomes of patients treated with bare metal stents in the year prior to introduction of drug-eluting stents, to outcomes of similar patients treated when drug-eluting stents had become the standard stent therapy at our institution.' Dr. Applegate and colleagues at Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem studied data on 1164 patients given bare metal stents and 1285 who received drug-eluting stents, mostly the sirolimus-eluting variety.

At 9 months, target vessel revascularization was 2.8% in the drug-eluting stent group and 8.6% in the bare metal group. Corresponding proportions for acute MI were 3.7% and 4.7%, and for death 4.9% versus 7.1%.

The adjusted proportional hazard ratio for death was 0.71. For the combined end point of acute MI or death, it was 0.60. 'We were pleased to observe at 9 months that patients treated with drug-eluting stents fared better on all counts compared to those treated with bare metal stents,' commented Dr. Applegate. 'And stent thrombosis rates were similar.' 'I have shared these observations with many of my patients,' he added, 'who are relieved on hearing this news. We are in the process of evaluating 2 year follow-up of these same patients.' 2007;99 333-338. Copyright © 2007 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. Reuters and the Reuters sphere logo are registered trademarks and trademarks of the Reuters group of companies around the world.