Meta-Analysis Finds Reduction in Stent Thrombosis with Everolimus-Eluting Stents

September 14th, 2011

Meta-Analysis Finds Reduction in Stent Thrombosis with Everolimus-Eluting Stents

Larry Husten, PHD

Stent thrombosis and other complications are less likely to occur when everolimus-eluting stents (EES) are used, according to a large meta-analysis appearing in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

Usman Baber and colleagues analyzed data from 13 trials that included 17,101 patients who were randomized to either EES or non-EES. They found significant reductions in stent thrombosis, MI, and target vessel revascularization with EES, but did not find a significant difference in cardiac mortality:

Stent thrombosis: 0.7% for EES versus 1.5% for non-EES, RR 0.55, CI 0.38-0.78, p=0.001
MI: 2.9% versus 3.9%, RR 0.78, CI 0.64-0.96; p=0.02
Target vessel revascularization: 5.7% versus 7.7%, RR 0.77, CI 0.64-0.92, p=0.004
Cardiac mortality: 1.6% versus 1.9%, RR 0.92, CI 0.74-1.16, p=0.38

The authors state that their data “are the most comprehensive to date evaluating the comparative efficacy and safety of this novel second-generation DES to those of non-EES.” They point out that “any of the EES system components (metallic stent material, strut thickness, polymer, drug, elution properties, healing), or their combination could account for” the better performance of EES in their study.

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September 14th, 2011