Drug-coated stents.
Drug-coated stents appear to be the most promising approach among all interventional strategies to prevent restenosis. These stents both suppress geometric remodeling and inhibit neointimal hyperplasia with a therapeutic agent. Animal studies and recent randomised clinical trials with sirolimus-eluting stents have achieved excellent results in the prevention of restenosis. These stents also have a good safety record and demonstrate a durable clinical benefit for patients at long-term follow-up. This article summarises experimental and clinical experiences with local drug delivery via a stent coating in the prevention of restenosis after coronary angioplasty, outlining the clinician's view of current trends.