Authors' objectives:

This review aims to assess the available evidence on drug-eluting stents for the prevention of restenosis in native coronary arteries.

Authors' recommendations: With regard to drug-eluting stents for the prevention of restenosis in native coronary arteries, the ICSI Technology Assessment Committee finds: - Drug-eluting stents have been shown in prospective, randomized trials to significantly decrease the rate of restenosis, repeat revascularization procedures, and cardiac events up to 1 year post-treatment as compared with bare metal stents in selected native coronary lesions of up to 30 mm in vessels with diameters of 2.25 to 3.5 mm that have not been previously stented (Conclusion Grade I). At present, there are no data from peer-reviewed randomized trials to permit a conclusion to be reached about the safety and efficacy of drug-eluting stents for other patient populations, other lesions sizes, or other vessel diameters. - Placement of drug-eluting stents followed by antiplatelet therapy has shown no statistically significant added risk of death or MI compared to placement of bare metal stents. The use of antiplatelet therapy with ticlopidine or clopidogrel in addition to aspirin for 3 to 6 months post-treatment was the protocol used in randomized trials. - Long-term safety and efficacy of drug-eluting stents are unknown at this time.

Authors' methods: Review

Project Status: Completed

URL for project: http://www.icsi.org/index.asp

Year Published: 2003

English language abstract: An English language summary is available

Publication Type: Not Assigned

Country: United States

Organisation Name: Institute for Clinical Systems Improvement

Contact Address: 8009 34th Avenue South, Suite 1200, Bloomington, MN, USA. Tel: +1 952 814 7060; Fax: +1 952 858 9675

Contact Name: icsi.info@icsi.org

Contact Email: icsi.info@icsi.org

Copyright: Institute for Clinical Systems Improvement (ICSI)