Sirolimus-Eluting Coronary Stents

To the Editor: The results of the RAVEL study (Randomized Study with the Sirolimus-Coated Bx Velocity Balloon-Expandable Stent in the Treatment of Patients with de Novo Native Coronary Artery Lesions) (June 6 issue) 1 are promising and bring to light the ethical and financial dilemma that is likely to surface once drug-eluting stents are approved for general use. The projected cost of each stent is likely to be about $3,200. Of course, from a financial and societal standpoint, it will not be possible to deploy drug-eluting stents in every case of percutaneous coronary-stent intervention. From an individual patient's standpoint, a drug-eluting . . .