Drug-Eluting Stents for ST-Segment Elevation MI?

Two studies suggest that, during the first year after stenting, patients who receive drug-eluting stents fare at least as well as those who receive bare metal stents.

Although drug-eluting stents (DES) are often used when performing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), data comparing outcomes with DES and bare-metal stents (BMS) in this setting are limited. Now, two European groups report their experiences.

In one study, 619 patients with STEMI were randomized to receive a paclitaxel DES or one of two BMS. At 1 year, a trend was noted toward lower rates of the primary endpoint (death from cardiac causes, recurrent MI, or revascularization of the target lesion) in the DES group (8.8% vs. 12.8%; P=0.09). The incidence of stent thrombosis was the same in the two groups (1.0%).

In the other study, supported by a sirolimus DES manufacturer, 712 p…

Reviewing Author

Kirsten E. Fleischmann, MD, MPH