Are Sirolimus-Eluting and Paclitaxel-Eluting Stents Equivalent?

Findings from a randomized study of actual clinical use suggest that they are, but the data are still inconclusive.

Sirolimus inhibits intimal hyperplasia after stenting to a greater extent than paclitaxel does, which may account for the lower restenosis rates found with sirolimus-eluting stents (SES) than with paclitaxel-eluting stents (PES) in most randomized comparisons. However, the absolute differences in restenosis rates have been small and may not be clinically relevant. To explore this issue, investigators in this multicenter study from Denmark randomized 2098 patients scheduled to undergo percutaneous coronary intervention to receive either SES or PES and followed them for clinical evidence of major adverse cardiac events for 18 months.

The incidence rates of combined major adverse events were similar in the SES and PES groups (10.0% and 11.6%, r…

Reviewing Author

Howard C. Herrmann, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardAffluent Medical; Artedrone; Caranx; Johnson & Johnson; Medtronic; Prolifagen; Wells Fargo

EquityMicrointerventional Devices, Inc.

RoyaltiesUniversity of Pennsylvania

Grant/Research SupportAbbott Vascular; Edwards Lifesciences; Johnson & Johnson; Medtronic

Editorial BoardsCatheterization and Cardiovascular Interventions; Journal of the American College of Cardiology; Circulation: Cardiovascular Interventions; JACC Cardiovascular Interventions; JACC Case Reports; JSCAI