2-Year Clinical and Angiographic Outcomes From a Randomized Trial of Polymer-Free Dual Drug-Eluting Stents Versus Polymer-Based Cypher and Endeavor, Drug-Eluting Stents

Abstract

In the ISAR-TEST-2 (Intracoronary Stenting and Angiographic Results: Test Efficacy of Three Limus-Eluting Stents) randomized trial, a new-generation sirolimus- and probucol-eluting stent (Dual-DES) demonstrated a 12-month efficacy that was comparable to sirolimus-eluting stents (SES) (Cypher, Cordis Corp., Warren, New Jersey) and superior to zotarolimus-eluting stents (ZES) (Endeavor, Medtronic CardioVascular, Santa Rosa, California). The aim of the current study was to investigate the comparative clinical and angiographic effectiveness of SES, Dual-DES, and ZES between 1 and 2 years. Long-term polymer residue is implicated in adverse events associated with delayed vessel healing after drug-eluting stent therapy. The second-generation ZES utilizes an enhanced biocompatibility polymer system whereas a new-generation Dual-DES employs a polymer-free drug-release system. A total of 1,007 patients undergoing coronary stenting of de novo lesions in native vessels were randomized to treatment with SES (n = 335), Dual-DES (n = 333), or ZES (n = 339). Clinical follow-up was performed to 2 years. Angiographic follow-up was scheduled at 6 to 8 months and 2 years. There were no significant differences between groups regarding death/myocardial infarction (SES: 10.2% vs. Dual-DES: 7.8% vs. ZES: 9.2%; p = 0.61) or definite stent thrombosis (SES: 0.9% vs. Dual-DES: 0.9% vs. ZES: 0.6%; p = 0.87). Two-year target lesion revascularization (TLR) was 10.7%, 7.7%, and 14.3% lesions in the SES, Dual-DES, and ZES groups, respectively (p = 0.009). Incident TLR between 1 and 2 years in the Dual-DES group (0.9%) was significantly lower than in the Cypher SES group (3.6%) (p = 0.009), but comparable to the Endeavor ZES group (0.7%) (p = 0.72). These findings mirrored those observed for binary restenosis. At 2 years, there was no signal of a differential safety profile between the 3 stent platforms. Furthermore, the antirestenotic efficacy of both Dual-DES and ZES remained durable between 1 and 2 years, with Dual-DES maintaining an advantage over the entire 2-year period. (Intracoronary Stenting and Angiographic Results: Test Efficacy of Three Limus-Eluting Stents [ISAR-TEST-2]; NCT00332397).