Sirolimus-Eluting and Paclitaxel-Eluting Stents for Coronary Revascularization

Sirolimus-eluting stents and paclitaxel-eluting stents both reduce the risk of restenosis after percutaneous coronary intervention as compared with bare-metal stents. In a randomized trial, the two types of drug-eluting stents were compared in patients undergoing revascularization. The sirolimus-eluting stents were associated with fewer major adverse cardiac events at nine months, primarily as a result of reductions in the rates of clinical and angiographic restenosis. The two types of drug-eluting stents were compared in patients undergoing revascularization. The sirolimus-eluting stents were associated with fewer major adverse cardiac events, primarily as a result of reductions in the rates of clinical and angiographic restenosis. The use of drug-eluting stents that deliver site-specific, controlled release of therapeutic agents 1 – 10 has significantly reduced the problem of restenosis inherent to bare-metal stents. 11 – 16 As compared with a bare-metal stent, a polymer-encapsulated stent releasing sirolimus reduced the rate of angiographic and clinical restenosis in several randomized trials. 1 , 2 , 5 , 7 , 9 Similarly, a polymer-based, paclitaxel-eluting stent consistently reduced the rate of restenosis and the need for repeated revascularization procedures, as compared with a bare-metal stent. 3 , 4 , 10 A recent meta-analysis of trials of drug-eluting stents confirmed that sirolimus-eluting stents and paclitaxel-eluting stents reduced the rate of restenosis. 17 The . . .