Two Types of Stents Get Similar Results

Sirolimus- and paclitaxel-eluting stents both have similar safety and efficacy profiles

THURSDAY, Feb. 26 (HealthDay News) -- Unprotected left main coronary artery disease can be safely treated with either paclitaxel- or sirolimus-eluting stents, according to the results of a study published online Feb. 25 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

Julinda Mehilli, M.D., of the Technische Universitat, Munich, Germany, and colleagues conducted a study of 607 patients, of whom 302 were assigned to treatment with a paclitaxel-eluting stent, while 305 received treatment with a sirolimus-eluting stent. The patients were followed-up at one year to assess incidence of death, myocardial infarction and target lesion revascularization.

At one year, patients in the paclitaxel-eluting stent treatment group had a cumulative incidence of death, myocardial infarction and target lesion revascularization of 13.6 percent, versus 15.8 percent for the sirolimus-eluting stent group, the investigators found. At the two-year mark, the mortality rate for the paclitaxel and sirolimus groups was 10.7 percent and 8.7 percent, respectively, the researchers report.

"Interestingly, we did not see any significant difference in the risk of restenosis between the two drug-eluting stents used," the authors write. "This is in contrast with some previous studies and meta-analyses on lesions situated outside the left main coronary artery showing a higher risk of restenosis with paclitaxel-eluting stents. The difference might be explained by the larger size of the left main coronary artery, which might accommodate a larger degree of neointima formation without significant lumen obstruction."

The study was partially funded by Cordis, of Palo Alto, Calif., which manufactures sirolimus-eluting stents. One of the study authors reports receiving lecture fees from the company.

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