title: Implantation of paclitaxel-eluting stents in saphenous vein grafts: clinical and angiographic follow-up results from a multicentre study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To define the clinical and angiographic follow-up results after implantation of paclitaxel-eluting stents (PESs) in stenotic saphenous vein grafts (SVGs).
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective multicentre study. Comparison with a control group.
  
  
  METHODS
  60 consecutive patients with 65 lesions located in 65 SVGs (mean (SD) age of vein grafts 11.3 (5.7) years) treated with PES (V-Flex Plus, 2.7 microg/mm(2) paclitaxel, Cook) and 60 patients with 60 SVG lesions treated with bare metal stent (BMS) were included. Lesions had to be <20 mm in length and in grafts of 2.75-3.5 mm diameter. The 6 month angiographic follow-up was obtained on 51 lesions (79%) of the PES group and on 51 lesions (85%) of the BMS group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Baseline clinical and angiographic characteristics were comparable between both groups. At angiographic follow-up, three vein grafts in the PES group and five vein grafts in the BMS group were occluded. In-stent late lumen loss was lower in PES than in BMS (0.61 (0.81) vs 1.06 (0.72) mm, respectively; p = 0.021). In-stent binary restenosis rates were 12% vs 33%, respectively, (p = 0.012). Linear regression analysis showed BMS to be the only factor with an effect on late lumen loss (p = 0.011). Target-vessel failure rates were 18% in the PES group and 41% in the BMS group (p = 0.019), whereas major adverse cardiac event (MACE) rates at 180 days were 15% and 37%, respectively (p = 0.014).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Implantation of non-polymer-based PES in SVG lesions is associated with a lower late lumen loss and restenosis rate than those of BMS. There remains a substantial target-vessel failure rate and MACE rate even at 6 months owing to graft occlusion or new lesions in the graft.
authors.affiliation: Medical Clinic I, University RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany. rhoffmann@ukaachen.de
authors.forename: Rainer
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hoffmann
authors.forename: Tilmann
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pohl
authors.forename: Ralf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Köster
authors.forename: Ruediger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Blindt
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Boeckstegers
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Heitzer
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D023903:Coronary Restenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004343:Drug Implants; D005260:Female; D006083:Graft Occlusion, Vascular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012501:Saphenous Vein; D015607:Stents
chemical_list: D004343:Drug Implants; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D017239:Paclitaxel