Drug-eluting stents (DES) with biodegradable polymers can allow controlled drug release followed by subsequent degradation of the polymer, leaving a in essence a bare-metal stent. \u00a0In patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), this may prevent the delayed vessel healing that is thought to be caused at least in part by the persistence of durable polymer components.<\/p>\n
In this randomised, single-blinded, multi-centre study, 1161 patients presenting with STEMI were assigned in a 1:1 ratio either to receive a biolimus eluting (n=575), or a bare-metal stent (n=582).\u00a0 The primary endpoint was the rate of major adverse cardiac events, which was a composite of cardiac death, target-vessel related infarction, and ischaemia driven target-lesion revascularisation at one year.<\/p>\n
At one year 24 patients (4.3%) receiving a biolimus-eluting stent with a biodegradable polymer suffered a major adverse cardiac event, compared to 49 (8.7%) of patients receiving bare-metal stents (P=0.004); this was largely due to a reduction in target-lesion revascularisation.\u00a0 There were no statistically significant differences in rates of cardiac death or stent thrombosis.<\/p>\n
Conclusion<\/strong>:<\/p>\n The use of biolimus-eluting stents with a biodegradable polymer, when compared to bare-metal stents, led to a lower rate of major adverse cardiac events at one year in patients undergoing primary PCI for STEMI.<\/p>\n