Study shows second generation drug-eluting stents are safe and effective

A study found that second-generation drug-eluting stents are safe and effective in the treatment of left main coronary artery lesions. The ISAR-LEFT MAIN 2 trial is the first and largest multicenter comparison trial between second-generation zotarolimus-eluting (ZES) and everolimus-eluting stents (EES) in invasive treatment of unprotected left main coronary artery (uLMCA) lesions.

The incidence of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) was 17.5 percent in the ZES group and 14.3 percent in the EES group (p=0.25). The incidence of definite stent thrombosis was 0.6 percent in both groups, while probable stent thrombosis occurred in 0.3 percent of the ZES group and 0 percent of the EES group. Angiographic restenosis occurred in 21.5 percent of the ZES group and 16.8 percent of the EES group. Results were presented at the 24th annual Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) scientific symposium.