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Evidence of the therapeutic benefit of the newer generation everolimus-eluting stent over the previous gold standard: results from the LESSON I trial

Hotline II: Embargoed for release: Monday 30 August 2010 0800hrs



Stockholm, Sweden, 30 August: Results from the LESSON I trial presented today provide preliminary evidence for the therapeutic benefit of the newer generation everolimus-eluting stent over the previous gold standard, the early generation sirolimus-eluting stent. Moreover, LESSON I provides evidence that the formation of blood clots (stent thrombosis) – the principal shortcoming of early generation drug-eluting stents – may be diminished with the newer generation everolimus-eluting stent.

"The latter observation," said principal investigator Professor Stephan Windecker from Bern University Hospital, Switzerland, "may have important implications for ongoing studies on prolonged duration of dual antiplatelet therapy after DES implantation, but will require  confirmation in randomised clinical trials."

Drug-eluting stents (DES) are designed to scaffold narrowed coronary arteries resulting from coronary artery disease. By means of the radial strength of the cylindrical mesh, DES keep the artery open, maintain blood flow, and gradually release an anti-proliferative drug into the surrounding tissue. The role of the drug is to prevent re-narrowing of the artery within the stented segment by scar tissue.

The first generation of DES effectively prevented re-narrowing of the artery but were associated with a small risk of stent thrombosis late after stent implantation. Newer generation DES have been developed using modified polymers and thinner metal struts, whose aim is to further improve upon the results of early generation DES.

The LESSON I (Long-term comparison of Everolimus-eluting and Sirolimus-eluting Stents for cOronary revascularizatioN) study compared 1601 patients undergoing treatment with everolimus-eluting stents with 1532 patients having treatment with sirolimus-eluting stents in a propensity-score matched analysis. The study involved all patients having percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with either everolimus-eluting or sirolimus-eluting stents at Bern University Hospital between 2004 and 2009.

The primary endpoint of the study was a composite of death, heart attacks and repeat interventions. Results showed that up to three years after the procedure the numbers of deaths, heart attacks and repeat interventions tended to be lower in patients treated with everolimus-eluting stents (14.9% of patients in the everolimus-eluting stent group and 18.0% of patients in the sirolimus-eluting stent group, a relative risk reduction 17%, P=0.056).

The differences in favour of the everolimus-eluting stent were found to be most pronounced in reducing heart attacks (3.3% of patients in the everolimus-eluting stent group versus 5.0% in the sirolimus-eluting group, a 38% relative risk reduction, P=0.02). "The lower risk of heart attacks was related at least in part to a lower risk of stent thrombosis in patients undergoing everolimus-eluting stent implantation," said Professor Windecker.

ENDS

Notes to editor

About the European Society of Cardiology
The European Society of Cardiology (ESC) represents more than 62,000 cardiology professionals across Europe and the Mediterranean. Its mission is to reduce the burden of cardiovascular disease in Europe.

About ESC Congress 2010
ESC Congress 2010 will take place from 28 August to 1 September at the Stockholmsmässan, Stockholm. Information on the scientific programme is available at http://spo.escardio.org/Search.aspx?eevtid=40 More information on ESC Congress 2010 is available from the ESC's press office at press@escardio.org.

This press release accompanies both a presentation and an ESC press conference given at the ESC Congress 2010. The press release has been written and/or edited by the ESC from information provided by the investigator and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the European Society of Cardiology. The content of the press release has been approved by the investigator.