Taxus Liberte Stent Research Articles

A Prospective, Randomized Comparison of Promus Everolimus-Eluting and TAXUS Liberte Paclitaxel-Eluting Stent Systems in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease Eligible for Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: The PROMISE Study

We aimed comparing two-year clinical outcomes of the Everolimus-Eluting Promus and Paclitaxel-Eluting TAXUS Liberte stents used in routine clinical practice. Patients with objective evidence of ischemia and coronary artery disease eligible for PCI were prospectively randomized to everolimus-eluting stent (EES) or paclitaxel-eluting stent (PES) groups. The primary end-point was ischemia-driven target vessel revascularization (TVR) at 2 yr after intervention, and the secondary end-point was a major adverse cardiac event (MACE), such as death, myocardial infarction (MI), target lesion revascularization (TLR), TVR or stent thrombosis. A total of 850 patients with 1,039 lesions was randomized to the EES (n=425) and PES (n=425) groups. Ischemic-driven TVR at 2 yr was 3.8% in the PES and 1.2% in the EES group (P for non-inferiority=0.021). MACE rates were significantly different; 5.6% in PES and 2.5% in EES (P = 0.027). Rates of MI (0.8% in PES vs 0.2% in EES, P = 0.308), all deaths (1.5% in PES vs 1.2% in EES, P = 0.739) and stent thrombosis (0.3% in PES vs 0.7% in EES, P = 0.325) were similar. The clinical outcomes of EES are superior to PES, mainly due to a reduction in the rate of ischemia-driven TVR.

Clinical outcomes between different stent designs with the same polymer and drug: comparison between the Taxus Express and Taxus Liberte stents

Background/AimsThe Taxus Liberte stent (Boston Scientific Co.) evolved from the Taxus Express stent, with enhanced stent deliverability and uniform drug delivery. This study was designed to compare angiographic and clinical outcomes in real-world practice between the Taxus Liberte and Taxus Express stents.MethodsBetween 2006 and 2008, 240 patients receiving the Taxus Liberte stent at three centers were registered and compared to historical control patients who had received the Taxus Express stent (n = 272). After propensity score matching, 173 patients treated with the Taxus Liberte stent and the same number of patients treated with the Taxus Express stent were selected. The primary outcome was a composite of major adverse cardiac events (MACE), including cardiac death, myocardial infarction (MI), ischemia driven target vessel revascularization (TVR), and stent thrombosis (ST) at 1 year. An additional angiographic assessment was conducted at 9 to 12 months.ResultsThe study showed no significant difference between the Taxus Express and Taxus Liberte stents (death, 1.73% vs. 2.31%, p = 1.000; MI, 0% vs. 1.73%, p = 0.2478; TVR, 2.31% vs. 1.16%, p = 0.6848; and ST, 0% vs. 1.16%, p = 0.4986). The total MACE rate at 1 year did not differ between the groups (4.05% in Taxus Express vs. 4.05% in Taxus Liberte, p = 1.000). In addition, the binary restenosis rate did not differ (2.25% in Taxus Express vs. 1.80% in Taxus Liberte, p = 0.6848).ConclusionsIn real-world experience with the two Taxus stent designs, both stents showed similarly good clinical and angiographic outcomes at 1 year. A long-term follow-up study is warranted.

Porównanie bezpieczeństwa i skuteczności stentów uwalniających paklitaksel z polimeru trwałego i biodegradowalnego w zmianach zlokalizowanych w żylnych pomostach aortalno-wieńcowych. Ocena angiograficzna i metodą ultrasonografii wewnątrznaczyniowej po dziewięciu miesiącach od implantacji stentu

ENWEndNote BIBJabRef, Mendeley RISPapers, Reference Manager, RefWorks, Zotero AMA Pregowski J, Witkowski A, Chmielak Z, et al. Original paperComparison of safety and efficacy of paclitaxel-eluting stents with durable versus biodegradable polymer implanted in saphenous vein graft lesions. Nine-month angiographic and intravascular ultrasound follow-up. Advances in Interventional Cardiology/Postępy w Kardiologii Interwencyjnej. 2012;8(4):269-274. doi:10.5114/pwki.2012.31906. APA Pregowski, J., Witkowski, A., Chmielak, Z., Kalińczuk, Ł., Ciszewski, A., & Karcz, M. et al. (2012). Original paperComparison of safety and efficacy of paclitaxel-eluting stents with durable versus biodegradable polymer implanted in saphenous vein graft lesions. Nine-month angiographic and intravascular ultrasound follow-up. Advances in Interventional Cardiology/Postępy w Kardiologii Interwencyjnej, 8(4), 269-274. https://doi.org/10.5114/pwki.2012.31906 Chicago Pregowski, Jerzy, Adam Witkowski, Zbigniew Chmielak, Łukasz Kalińczuk, Andrzej Ciszewski, Maciej Karcz, and Jakub Przyłuski et al. 2012. "Original paperComparison of safety and efficacy of paclitaxel-eluting stents with durable versus biodegradable polymer implanted in saphenous vein graft lesions. Nine-month angiographic and intravascular ultrasound follow-up". Advances in Interventional Cardiology/Postępy w Kardiologii Interwencyjnej 8 (4): 269-274. doi:10.5114/pwki.2012.31906. Harvard Pregowski, J., Witkowski, A., Chmielak, Z., Kalińczuk, Ł., Ciszewski, A., Karcz, M., Przyłuski, J., Jastrzebski, J., Wolny, R., and Dziarmaga, M. (2012). Original paperComparison of safety and efficacy of paclitaxel-eluting stents with durable versus biodegradable polymer implanted in saphenous vein graft lesions. Nine-month angiographic and intravascular ultrasound follow-up. Advances in Interventional Cardiology/Postępy w Kardiologii Interwencyjnej, 8(4), pp.269-274. https://doi.org/10.5114/pwki.2012.31906 MLA Pregowski, Jerzy et al. "Original paperComparison of safety and efficacy of paclitaxel-eluting stents with durable versus biodegradable polymer implanted in saphenous vein graft lesions. Nine-month angiographic and intravascular ultrasound follow-up." Advances in Interventional Cardiology/Postępy w Kardiologii Interwencyjnej, vol. 8, no. 4, 2012, pp. 269-274. doi:10.5114/pwki.2012.31906. Vancouver Pregowski J, Witkowski A, Chmielak Z, Kalińczuk Ł, Ciszewski A, Karcz M et al. Original paperComparison of safety and efficacy of paclitaxel-eluting stents with durable versus biodegradable polymer implanted in saphenous vein graft lesions. Nine-month angiographic and intravascular ultrasound follow-up. Advances in Interventional Cardiology/Postępy w Kardiologii Interwencyjnej. 2012;8(4):269-274. doi:10.5114/pwki.2012.31906.

Comparative vascular responses three months after paclitaxel and everolimus-eluting stent implantation in streptozotocin-induced diabetic porcine coronary arteries

BackgroundDiabetes remains a significant risk factor for restenosis/thrombosis following stenting. Although vascular healing responses following drug-eluting stent (DES) treatment have been characterized previously in healthy animals, comparative assessments of different DES in a large animal model with isolated features of diabetes remains limited. We aimed to comparatively assess the vascular response to paclitaxel-eluting (PES) and everolimus-eluting (EES) stents in a porcine coronary model of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced type I diabetes.MethodTwelve Yucatan swine were induced hyperglycemic with a single STZ dose intravenously to ablate pancreatic β-cells. After two months, each animal received one XIENCE V® (EES) and one Taxus Liberte (PES) stent, respectively, in each coronary artery. After three months, vascular healing was assessed by angiography and histomorphometry. Comparative in vitro effects of everolimus and paclitaxel (10-5 M–10-12 M) after 24 hours on carotid endothelial (EC) and smooth muscle (SMC) cell viability under hyperglycemic (42 mM) conditions were assayed by ELISA. Caspase-3 fluorescent assay was used to quantify caspase-3 activity of EC treated with everolimus or paclitaxel (10-5 M, 10-7 M) for 24 hours.ResultsAfter 3 months, EES reduced neointimal area (1.60 ± 0.41 mm, p < 0.001) with trends toward reduced % diameter stenosis (11.2 ± 9.8%, p = 0.12) and angiographic late-loss (0.28 ± 0.30 mm, p = 0.058) compared to PES (neointimal area: 2.74 ± 0.58 mm, % diameter stenosis: 19.3 ± 14.7%, late loss: 0.55 ± 0.53 mm). Histopathology revealed increased inflammation scores (0.54 ± 0.21 vs. 0.08 ± 0.05), greater medial necrosis grade (0.52 ± 0.26 vs. 0.0 ± 0.0), and persistently elevated fibrin scores (1.60 ± 0.60 vs. 0.63 ± 0.41) with PES compared to EES (p < 0.05). In vitro, paclitaxel significantly increased (p < 0.05) EC/SMC apoptosis/necrosis at high concentrations (≥10-7 M), while everolimus did not affect EC/SMC apoptosis/necrosis within the dose range tested. In ECs, paclitaxel (10-5 M) significantly increased caspase-3 activity (p < 0.05) while everolimus had no effect.ConclusionAfter 3 months, both DES exhibited signs of delayed healing in a STZ-induced diabetic swine model. PES exhibited greater neointimal area, increased inflammation, greater medial necrosis, and persistent fibrin compared to EES. Differential effects of everolimus and paclitaxel on vascular cell viability may potentially be a factor in regulating delayed healing observed with PES. Further investigation of molecular mechanisms may aid future development of stent-based therapies in treating coronary artery disease in diabetic patients.

Comparação randomizada entre o stent eluidor de paclitaxel de nova geração sem polímero e o stent eluidor de paclitaxel com polímero durável em pacientes com doença arterial coronária: resultados da análise angiográfica e ultrassonográfica seriada do estudo PAX-A

INTRODUÇÃO: A maior taxa de trombose tardia observada após implante de stents farmacológicos de primeira geração trouxe preocupação acerca de sua segurança a longo prazo. Inflamação vascular local e cicatrização tardia foram identificadas como importantes substratos para esse fenômeno. Polímero persistente, fármaco antiproliferativo ou ambos foram identificados como importantes fatores etiológicos. No estudo atual procuramos investigar o desempenho e a eficácia do novo stent eluidor de paclitaxel Amazonia-PAX, sem cobertura polimérica, em comparação com o stent de primeira geração eluidor de paclitaxel Taxus Liberté, com cobertura polimérica. MÉTODOS: O PAX-A é um estudo prospectivo, randomizado, cego e unicêntrico, no qual pacientes com lesões únicas, de novo, < 20 mm, em coronárias de 2,5 mm a 3,5 mm de diâmetro, foram randomizados para receber o stent Amazonia-PAX (n = 16) ou o stent Taxus Liberté (n = 15). Os desfechos primários foram a perda luminal tardia intrastent e a porcentagem do volume de obstrução intrastent por ultrassom intracoronário (USIC) 4 meses após o procedimento. Os desfechos secundários foram constituídos por reestenose binária e variação dos volumes do vaso, lúmen e stent pelo USIC aos 4 meses, bem como a ocorrência de eventos cardíacos adversos maiores [ECAM: morte, infarto do miocárdio (IM) não-fatal e revascularização da lesão-alvo (RLA)] em um ano. RESULTADOS: Não foram observadas diferenças nas características clínicas e angiográficas basais. No seguimento de 4 meses, a perda luminal tardia intrastent (0,77 [0,47-1,05] mm vs. 0,42 [0,17-0,86] mm; P = 0,29) e a porcentagem do volume de obstrução intrastent (19,2 + 9,5% vs. 9,3 + 10,1%; P = 0,08) foram maiores no stent Amazonia-PAX. Em um ano, a taxa de ECAM foi de 18,7% no grupo Amazonia-PAX e de 26,7% no grupo Taxus Liberté (P = 0,8). Houve uma morte e dois IMs não-fatais nos grupos Taxus Liberté e Amazonia-PAX, respectivamente. Dois pacientes no grupo Amazonia-PAX e 4 pacientes no grupo Taxus Liberté necessitaram RLA. CONCLUSÕES: O stent eluidor de paclitaxel não-polimérico Amazonia-PAX promoveu moderada inibição da hiperplasia intimal em comparação com o stent eluidor de paclitaxel com polímero durável de primeira geração Taxus Liberté.

RANDOMIZED COMPARISON OF A POLYMER-FREE SIROLIMUS-ELUTING STENT VERSUS A POLYMER-BASED PACLITAXEL-ELUTING STENT IN PATIENTS WITH DIABETES MELLITUS: THE LIPSIA YUKON TRIAL

Objectives The objective of the study was to assess noninferiority of the polymer-free sirolimus-eluting Yukon Choice stent (Translumina GmbH, Hechingen, Germany) compared with the polymer-based Taxus Liberte stent (Boston Scientific, Natick, Massachusetts) with regard to the primary endpoint, in-stent late lumen loss, at 9 months in patients with diabetes mellitus. Background The Yukon Choice stent has been evaluated in several randomized controlled trials before, albeit to date, there has been no trial that exclusively enrolled patients with diabetes mellitus. Methods Patients with diabetes mellitus undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention for clinically significant de novo coronary artery stenosis were randomized 1:1 to receive either the polymer-free sirolimus-eluting Yukon Choice stent or the polymer-based paclitaxel-eluting Taxus Liberte stent. Results A total of 240 patients were randomized. Quantitative coronary angiography was available for 79% of patients. Mean in-stent late lumen loss was 0.63 ± 0.62 mm for the Yukon Choice stent and 0.45 ± 0.60 mm for the Taxus Liberte stent. Based on the pre-specified margin, the Yukon Choice stent failed to show noninferiority for the primary endpoint. During follow-up, there were no significant differences between groups regarding death, myocardial infarction, stent thrombosis, target lesion revascularization, target vessel revascularization, or nontarget vessel revascularization. Conclusions Compared with the Taxus Liberte stent, the polymer-free sirolimus-eluting Yukon Choice stent failed to show noninferiority with regard to the primary endpoint, in-stent late lumen loss, in patients with diabetes mellitus after 9-month follow-up. Both stents showed comparable clinical efficacy and safety. (Yukon Choice Versus Taxus Liberte in Diabetes Mellitus; NCT00368953 )

Comparison of Dual Drug-Eluting Cilotax Stent and Paclitaxel-Eluting Taxus Liberte Stent in Native Coronary Artery Lesions

Cilotax stent is a new type of drug-eluting stent (DES) designed to increase the antirestenotic performance of the paclitaxel-eluting stent and decrease the risk of stent thrombosis by the incorporation of cilostazol. Therefore, we investigated the safety and efficacy of Cilotax dual DESs and compared their performance to that of paclitaxel-eluting Taxus Liberte. Patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention for de novo coronary artery lesions at 2 centers in Korea were randomized to receive Cilotax (n = 55) or Taxus Liberte (n = 56) stents. The primary end point was in-segment late loss at 8 months. The 2 groups had similar baseline characteristics. Cilotax stent was not inferior to Taxus Liberte stent as determined by in-segment late loss (0.28 ± 0.30 vs 0.42 ± 0.45 mm, difference -0.14, 95% confidence interval -0.27 to -0.01, 1-sided p = 0.028 for noninferiority). In-stent late loss was significantly lower in the Cilotax than in the Taxus Liberte group (0.22 ± 0.31 vs 0.50 ± 0.55 mm, p = 0.002). Although in-segment restenosis rate did not differ significantly between the 2 groups (3.8% vs 10.9%, respectively, p = 0.271), in-stent restenosis rate was significantly lower in the Cilotax stent group (0% vs 10.9%, p = 0.027). There was no stent thrombosis at 8 months in either group. Rates of death, myocardial infarction, and any target lesion revascularization at 8 months were 0%, 0%, and 1.9%, respectively, in the Cilotax group and 1.8%, 0% and 3.6%, respectively, in the Taxus Liberte group. In conclusion, the Cilotax stent was safe and effective in decreasing late loss, indicating that this stent represents a promising new type of DES system.

Long-Term Benefit of the TAXUS Liberte Stent in Small Vessels and Long Lesions - TAXUS ATLAS Program -

The long-term impact of treating de novo coronary lesions in native vessels and challenging small vessel and long lesion subsets with TAXUS Liberté stents is unknown. This report examines the 3-year efficacy and safety from the TAXUS ATLAS program. TAXUS ATLAS WH, Small Vessel, and Long Lesion are non-randomized studies comparing TAXUS Liberté (n = 871), TAXUS Liberté 2.25 mm (n = 261), and TAXUS Liberté 38 mm (n = 150) stents, respectively, to case-matched TAXUS Express historical controls. TAXUS Liberté demonstrated comparable 3-year rates of major adverse cardiac events (19.0% vs. 20.2%, P = 0.51) in de novo lesions, reduced target lesion revascularization (TLR, 10.0% vs. 22.1%, P = 0.008) in small vessels, and reduced myocardial infarction (MI, 2.9% vs. 10.4%; P = 0.01) and stent thrombosis (ST, 0.0% vs. 3.9%, P = 0.03) in long lesions vs. TAXUS Express. After propensity score adjustment, no statistically significant effect of TAXUS Liberté on TLR (9.7% vs. 16.9%, P = 0.12) in small vessels or MI (2.9% vs. 7.9%, P = 0.05) in long lesions was noted, although reduced ST (0.0% vs. 2.7%, P = 0.02) remained in long lesions. Multivariate analyses demonstrated that TAXUS Liberté treatment significantly reduced TLR by 66% in small vessels, and MI by 75% in long lesions, vs. TAXUS Express. TAXUS Liberté suggests durable 3-year effectiveness in reducing restenosis and improved clinical outcomes in small vessels and long lesions compared with TAXUS Express.

Comparison of plaque prolapse in consecutive patients treated with Xience V and Taxus Liberte stents

The purpose of this article is to investigate the prevalence of plaque prolapse (PP) after Xience V and Taxus Liberte stent implantation. During the study period 2006-2007, 200 consecutive patients underwent coronary revascularization for de novo lesions and received an intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) post-stenting evaluation, (n = 124 patients with Taxus Liberte and n = 76 with Xience V) (227 stent segments). Cross-sectional and longitudinal 3D IVUS images were analyzed in a blind fashion, evaluating the prevalence of PP and calculating its depth and angle. The angulation degree of the coronary artery at the lesion site pre-stent implantation was also evaluated by angiography. The prevalence of PP was 23.9% in Xience V versus 38.1% in Taxus Liberte (P = 0.025). The depth and angle of PP were greater in Taxus Liberte stent than Xience V stent (0.4 ± 0.1 mm versus 0.5 ± 0.2 mm, P = 0.004; and 32.0 ± 8.9° versus 44.6 ± 27.6°, P = 0.044, respectively). The angulation degree of the coronary artery at the lesion site was higher in presence of plaque prolapse than in its absence (48.2 ± 29.3° vs. 38.2 ± 28.1°, P = 0.013). By multivariate analysis, stent type was independently associated with incidence of plaque prolapse. Xience V stent has less plaque prolapse than Taxus Liberte stent. Stent design may play a role in the prevalence of plaque prolapse.

The Petal dedicated bifurcation stent

Description of the Petal dedicated bifurcation drug-eluting stent The Taxus Petal (Boston Scientific Corporation, Natick, MA, USA) dedicated bifurcation device is a paclitaxel-eluting, side-branch access stent delivered over two coronary guidewires, enabling maintenance of side-branch access throughout the procedure. The body of the stent is deployed by inflation of a standard cylindrical balloon, and the side-branch “petal” struts are expanded by inflation of a smaller elliptical balloon (Figure 1). The balloon lumens (main and side-branch) are connected, permitting simultaneous balloon inflation using a single inflation device (Figure 1). The petal strut elements (Figure 1) project approximately 2 mm into the side branch providing mechanical support and applying anti-proliferative drug to the side-branch ostium, a common site for restenosis after bifurcation stenting procedures. When the Petal is delivered to a bifurcation lesion, separation of markers confirms rotational alignment of the SB elements with the SB (Figures 1 and 2). The Boston Scientific Petal stent is an improved version of a bare metal Petal stent made by Advanced Stent Technologies. The current laser cut design uses a novel, more radio-opaque platinum chromium alloy that is associated with greater visibility than stainless steel or cobalt chromium (Figure 3). The alloy is also stronger, allowing construction of stents with thinner struts but with maintained radial strength and minimal recoil. The drug (paclitaxel) and polymer (translute) are the same as those coating the Taxus Express and Taxus Liberte stents and evaluated in clinical trials. The stent/ delivery system profile allows delivery through a 7 Fr guide catheter.

Serum levels of soluble receptor for advanced glycation end products (sRAGE) in Takayasu's arteritis

stent thrombosis: strut coverage as a marker of endothelialization. Circulation 2007;115:2435–41. [4] Takebayashi H, Mintz GS, Carlier SG, et al. Nonuniform strut distribution correlates with more neointimal hyperplasia after sirolimus-eluting stent implantation. Circulation 2004;110:3430–4. [5] Turco MA, Ormiston JA, Popma JJ, et al. Polymer-based, paclitaxel-eluting TAXUS Liberte stent in de novo lesions: the pivotal TAXUS ATLAS trials. J Am Coll Cardiol 2007;49:1676–83. [6] TakanoM, Ohba T, Inami S, et al. Angioscopic differences in neointimal coverage and in persistence of thrombus between sirolimus-eluting stents and bare metal stents after a 6-months implantation. Eur Heart J 2006;27:2189–95. [7] YamamotoM, Okamatsu K, Inami S, et al. Relationship between neointimal coverage of sirolimus-eluting stents and lesion characteristics: a study with serial coronary angioscopy. Am Heart J 2009;158:99–104. [8] Takano M, Yamamoto M, Murakami D, et al. Lack of association large angiographic late loss and low risk of in-stent thrombus: angioscopic comparison between paclitaxeland sirolimus-eluting stent. Circ Cardiovasc Intervent 2008;1:20–7. [9] Coats AJ. Ethical authorship and publishing. Int J Cardiol 2009;131:149–50.

Morphologic characteristics of late stent malapposition after drug-eluting stents implantation by optical coherence tomography follow-up

Background Late stent malapposition was frequently observed after DES implantation, which has been associated with the occurrence of late stent thrombosis due to poor neointimal coverage. This study was designed to evaluate the frequency of late stent malapposition at least 1 year after different DESs implantation by optical coherence tomography (OCT). Methods Angiographic and OCT examinations were given to 68 patients who had received total 126 various DESs implantation for at least 1 year to detect late stent malapposition. Malapposed strut distance (MSD), malapposed strut area (MSA), reference lumen area (RLA) and reference stent area (RSA) were checked with off-line OCT analysis. Results Totally 26 Cypher Select stents, 15 Taxus Liberte stents, 51 Partner stents and 34 Firebird I stents were examined. Among 68 patients who underwent DES implantation, 7 patients (10.3%) had late malapposition. Average RSA, MSA and MSD were (7.9±2.8) mm2,(2.0±1.6) mm2 and (590±270) μm respectively. According to the MSA/RSA ratio, 4 patients had slight malapposition, 2 patients had moderate malapposition and 1 patient had severe malapposition. Conclusions Late stent malapposition is detected frequently after implantation of DES, but if this predisposes to late stent thrombosis and requires any specific therapy needs to be further elucidated.

Endothelial progenitor cell capture stents: will this technology find its niche in contemporary practice?

Drug-eluting stents (DES) have significantly reduced rates of restenosis; however, elution from their surface of cytotoxic and cytostatic drugs, together with the presence of non-erodable polymers, is associated with impaired endothelialization, allergic reactions, inflammation, and vascular dysfunction, factors which have all been implicated in the most prominent safety concern with DES today —stent thrombosis (ST).1–3 The development of newer DES with polymers that are either more biocompatible, biodegradable, or completely absent, together with completely biodegradable stents has been an important step forward to minimize the potential risk of ST. Despite this, however, the rapid restoration of a functional endothelium appears, in theory at least, to be one of the most intuitive ways of minimizing the risk of ST and excessive neointimal proliferation.4 Therefore, it comes as no surprise that soon after the discovery of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs),5 a novel coronary stent, the Genous™ EPC capture stent (OrbusNeich, Florida, USA), was developed which had a proprietary coating that contained anti-human CD34 antibodies ( Figure 1 ). These antibodies were able to capture circulating EPCs, such that the EPC capture stent was considered a potential solution to many of the problems of coronary stenting. Figure 1 Schematic diagram illustrating the underlying principal behind the EPC capture stent. The CD-34 antigen on the EPC binds to the anti CD-34 antibody on the stent's surface to promote rapid endothelialisation. Six years on, and Beijk et al. 6 report the 1-year outcomes of the TRIAS HR study, the first randomized study comparing the Genous™ EPC stent with a conventional DES (the Taxus Liberte stent). This study adds to the paucity of data already available on the EPC stent, and disappointingly reaffirms the disparity between technological promise and real-life clinical results. Prior to the completion of 1-year follow-up this single-centre study was transformed into … *Corresponding author. Tel: +31 10 7035260, Fax: +31 10 4369154, Email: p.w.j.c.serruys{at}erasmusmc.nl