ISAR-TEST 4: Biodegradable, permanent polymer stents yield comparable 3-year results

Byrne R. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2011;58:1325-1321

Biodegradable and permanent polymer drug-eluting stents have similar outcomes after 3 years, and everolimus-eluting and sirolimus-eluting stents have comparable outcomes in patients with stable coronary disease or acute coronary syndromes, according to a study.

Researchers randomly assigned 2,603 patients to either biodegradable polymer (n=1,299) or permanent polymer stents (n=1,304). Those treated with permanent polymer stents were then randomly assigned to receive everolimus-eluting stents (EES; n=652) or sirolimus-eluting stents (SES; n=652). Researchers listed the primary endpoint as the composite of cardiac death, target vessel-related MI or target lesion revascularization.

Researchers found that an incidence of cardiac death, MI related to target vessel or target lesion revascularization in biodegradable polymer and permanent polymer drug-eluting stents was not significantly different at 3 years (HR=0.95; 95% CI, 0.80-1.13). Also, the definite/probable stent thrombosis rate was similarly low in both groups, 1.2% with the biodegradable polymer vs. 1.7% with the permanent polymer (HR=0.71; 95% CI, 0.37-1.39). In the secondary study comparison, incidence of cardiac death, MI related to target vessel or target lesion revascularization was not significantly different between EES and SES (HR=0.87; 95% CI, 0.68-1.11). At 3 years, there was a 1.4% definite/probable stent thrombosis rate with EES vs. 1.9% with SES (HR=0.75; 95% CI, 0.32-1.78).

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