Objectives: We sought to investigate the performance and efficacy of the third-generation polymer-free Vestasync-eluting stent (VES).
Background: Recent concerns regarding the long-term safety of drug-eluting stents have been raised. Synthetic polymers have been associated with intensive inflammatory response and late stent thrombosis. Newly developed, the VES combines a stainless steel platform with a nanothin-microporous hydroxyapatite surface coating impregnated with a polymer-free sirolimus formulation (55 mum).
Methods: In May 2007, 15 patients with single de novo lesion located in native coronary arteries 3.0 to 3.5 mm in diameter and < or =14 mm in length were consecutively enrolled. Primary end points included in-stent late lumen loss and in-stent percent of obstruction at 4 months. Serial angiography and intravascular ultrasound were obtained at the index procedure and repeated at 4-month follow-up.
Results: Mean population age was 63.8 years; 33% of patients were diabetic. The left anterior descending artery was the prevalent target vessel (47%). Reference vessel diameter and lesion length were 2.67 +/- 0.32 mm and 9.98 +/- 1.98 mm, respectively. The VES was successfully implanted in all cases, and there were no procedure and in-hospital complications. Life-long aspirin and 6-month clopidogrel therapy were prescribed for all patients. At 4 months, in-stent late lumen loss was 0.30 +/- 0.25 mm and percent of stent obstruction was 2.8 +/- 2.2%. After up to 6 months of clinical follow-up, no major adverse cardiac event was registered.
Conclusions: The third-generation VES demonstrated excellent acute results in the treatment of de novo coronary lesions. Longer follow-up with a more complex subset of patients and lesions is required to confirm these preliminary results.