Lack of Neointimal Proliferation After Implantation of Sirolimus-Coated Stents in Human Coronary Arteries

Background —Restenosis remains an important limitation of interventional cardiology. Therefore, we aimed to determine the safety and efficacy of sirolimus (a cell-cycle inhibitor)-coated BX Velocity stents. Methods and Results —Thirty patients with angina pectoris were electively treated with 2 different formulations of sirolimus-coated stents (slow release [SR], n=15, and fast release [FR], n=15). All stents were successfully delivered, and patients were discharged without clinical complications. Independent core laboratories analyzed angiographic and 3D volumetric intravascular ultrasound data (immediately after procedure and at 4-month follow-up). Eight-month clinical follow-up was obtained for all patients. There was minimal neointimal hyperplasia in both groups (11.0±3.0% in the SR group and 10.4±3.0% in the FR group, P =NS) by ultrasound and quantitative coronary angiography (in-stent late loss, 0.09±0.3 mm [SR] and −0.02±0.3 mm [FR]; in-lesion late loss, 0.16±0.3 mm [SR] and −0.1±0.3 mm [FR]). No in-stent or edge restenosis (diameter stenosis ≥50%) was observed. No major clinical events (stent thrombosis, repeat revascularization, myocardial infarction, or death) had occurred by 8 months. Conclusions —The implantation of sirolimus-coated BX Velocity stents is feasible and safe and elicits minimal neointimal proliferation. Additional placebo-controlled trials are required to confirm these promising results.