News Release

Preliminary study: Bioabsorbable drug-eluting stents safe and effective

Peer-Reviewed Publication

The Lancet_DELETED

Bioabsorbable everolimus-eluting coronary artery stents (BVS) are safe and effective in patients with single coronary artery lesions, with acceptable in-stent late loss, minimal formation of scar tissue within the stent, and a low stent area obstruction. These are the conclusions of authors of an Article in this week's edition of The Lancet.

A fully bioabsorbable drug-eluting coronary stent that scaffolds the vessel wall when needed and disappears once the vessel has remodelled itself has theoretical advantages. For example, less potential for late stent thrombosis (blockage) since there will eventually be no foreign material exposed to the blood if the stent has disappeared into the vessel wall. Permanent metallic stenting can be susceptible to such blockages and other complications.

Professor Patrick Serruys, Thoraxcenter, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands, and Dr John Ormiston, Auckland City Hosptial, New Zealand, and colleagues did a study of 30 patients (ABSORB study) who had ischaemia and a single lesion that was suitable for treatment with a single 3 x 12mm or 3 x 18mm stent. The BVS stent has a backbone and coating of lactic acid which helps control the release of everolimus, a drug which prevents scar tissue formation. The patients were enrolled from academic hospitals in New Zealand, The Netherlands, Poland, and Denmark. The endpoints measured were cardiac death, heart attack, and repeat stenting. Angiographic endpoints were available for 26 patients and ultrasound endpoints for 24 patients.

The researchers found that procedural success was 100%, and device success was 94% (29 out of 31 attempts at implanting the stent). After 1 year follow-up, one of the patients (3.3%) had had a heart attack. No late stent thromboses were recorded.

The authors conclude: "This study shows the feasibility of implantation of the bioabsorbable everolimus-eluting stents.we noted only one major adverse cardiac event and no instance of stent thrombosis."

In an accompanying Comment, Dr Carlo Di Mario, Royal Brompton Hospital, Imperial College, London, UK, and Dr Giuseppe Ferrante, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy, say: "Events as potentially deadly as stent thrombosis should ideally be eradicated; and radical alternatives to conventional stents, such as biodegradable stents, deserve to be the focus of research investment."

###

Professor Patrick Serruys, Thoraxcenter, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands T) +31-65-367-1774 E) p.w.j.c.serruys@erasmusmc.nl

Dr John Ormiston, Auckland City Hosptial, New Zealand T) +64 963 01961 E) johno@mercyangiography.co.nz

Dr Carlo Di Mario, Royal Brompton Hospital, Imperial College, London, UK T) +44 7799 067639 E) c.dimario@rbht.nhs.uk

PDF OF ARTICLE: http://multimedia.thelancet.com/pdf/press/Stents.pdf


Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.