A prospective randomized comparison between paclitaxel and sirolimus stents in the real world of interventional cardiology: the TAXi trial.
OBJECTIVE
We conducted this trial to assess whether a sirolimus-eluting stent (SES) produces similar results to a paclitaxel-eluting stent (PES) when used in the real world of interventional cardiology.


BACKGROUND
Several drug-eluting stents have been shown to exert a beneficial effect on restenosis when used in the treatment of coronary artery disease. Any potential superiority of one drug over the others, however, is still unknown.


METHODS
To evaluate whether a PES or an SES is superior in daily practice, we randomized all patients suitable to receive a drug-eluting stent in our institution. Clinical follow-up was obtained after at least six months.


RESULTS
A total of 202 patients were included in this trial. One hundred patients received a PES and 102 received an SES. Procedural success was 99% in both groups. Incidence of major adverse cardiac events at follow-up (mean 7 +/- 2 months) was 4% with the PES and 6% with the SES (p = 0.8). The need for target lesion revascularization was very low in both groups (1% with the PES and 3% with the SES).


CONCLUSIONS
Our results confirm that the high success rate obtained with both stents in randomized trials can be replicated in routine clinical practice. In this small group of patients we were unable to show any advantage of one stent over the other.
Goy
Jean-Jacques
JJ
Service of Cardiology, Clinique Cecil, Chemin des Croix-Rouges 7, 1007 Lausanne, Switzerland. jjgoy@goyman.com
Stauffer
Jean-Christophe
JC
Siegenthaler
Manon
M
Benoît
Alain
A
Seydoux
Charles
C
D000368:Aged; D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006083:Graft Occlusion, Vascular / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020123:Sirolimus / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015607:Stents; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D017239:Paclitaxel; D020123:Sirolimus