Bare-Metal or Drug-Eluting Stenting in Acute MI?

A meta-analysis suggests that rates of TVR are lower with DES than with BMS, but long-term effects remain unknown.

In patients with ST-segment-elevation MI, primary percutaneous coronary intervention has emerged as the preferred reperfusion strategy when it is logistically feasible. Compared with balloon angioplasty, bare-metal stenting (BMS) during PCI is associated with lower rates of reocclusion and restenosis, although rates of target-vessel (TVR) revascularization still range from 7% to 15%. Drug-eluting stenting (DES) has been shown to reduce TVR rates compared with BMS (Journal Watch Cardiology Sep 13 2006), but outcomes data from randomized trials has been insufficient to establish the safety of DES.

Researchers in Europe performed a meta-analysis of eight randomized trials comparing DES with BMS in a total of 2786 patients with STEMI. All patien…

Reviewing Author

Beat J. Meyer, MD

Disclosures

Leadership positions in professional societiesBern Heart Foundation (President); International Academy of Medicine, Bern, Switzerland (Director)

Beat J. Meyer, MD

Disclosures

Leadership positions in professional societiesBern Heart Foundation (President); International Academy of Medicine, Bern, Switzerland (Director)