NEW YORK (Reuters Health) – When patients with acute coronary syndromes receive non-drug-eluting, carbon-coated stents, the rate of binary angiographic restenosis rate at 6 months is low, according to a report in the June issue of Clinical Cardiology.

Research indicates that carbon-coated stents have lower late loss rates than do bare-metal stents, Dr. Jochen Wohrle, from the University of Ulm, Germany, and colleagues state. The impact of carbon-coated stents on long-term angiographic outcomes, however, has not been studied.

To investigate, the researchers assessed 6-month clinical and angiographic outcomes after placement of carbon-coated stents in 205 patients with ST-segment elevation MI and 115 with non-ST elevation MI.

The main angiographic outcomes were in-stent late lumen loss and the binary restenosis rate (50% diameter restenosis). Major adverse cardiac events studied included death, Q-wave MI, and target lesion revascularization.

Clinical follow-up was available for 97.4% of patients. During follow-up, 14 patients died, 3 patients had a Q-wave MI, and 39 patients required target lesion revascularization.

In-stent late lumen loss was 0.69 mm, on average, with a binary restenosis rate was 19.1%. Late lumen loss for the total segment, including the 5 mm distal and proximal to the stent, was 0.74 mm, with a restenosis rate of 21.4%.

While the findings are encouraging, the authors note, data from a randomized trial is needed to prove that carbon-coated stents are truly better than bare-metal stents in reducing restenosis.

Reference:
Clin Cardiol 2009;32:E1-E6.