title: A stent is not just a stent: Stent construction and design do matter in its clinical performance.
abstract: The undisputed superiority of stents over conventional balloon angioplasty has resulted in a plethora of stents in clinical use. Recent data, however, have indicated not all stent models are the same. Nuances in stent design and construction have impacted significantly on the immediate and long-term clinical outcome. Among the stainless steel stents, those with multicellular or tubular designs have proven to be superior to coiled or hybrid stent models, and thin-strut stents perform better than thicker-strut stents. Coating stainless steel stents with gold, carbide, phosphorylcholine or heparin do not appear to confer any additional benefit, compared with bare metal stents. In contrast, randomised trials have demonstrated that drug-eluting stents coated with various anti-proliferative drugs, with or without a carrier polymer, afford unparalleled restenosis rates compared with non-drug-eluting stents. Drug-eluting stents, however, are expensive, and their long-term durability and safety remain undefined. Notwithstanding these unresolved issues, it is likely that the majority of percutaneous coronary interventions will involve the use of drug-eluting stents once a more attractive balance between their cost and clinical effects is reached.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, National Heart Centre, Mistri Wing, 17 Third Hospital Avenue, Singapore 168752. LAU_Kean_Wah@nhc.com.sg
authors.forename: K W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Lau
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Johan
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Sigwart
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Hung
mesh_terms: D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000628:therapy*; D023903:Coronary Restenosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D006801:Humans; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011108:Polymers; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D020123:Sirolimus / Q000008:administration & dosage; D013193:Stainless Steel; D015607:Stents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics
chemical_list: D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D011108:Polymers; D013193:Stainless Steel; D017239:Paclitaxel; D020123:Sirolimus