title: Long-term clinical results following stenting of the left main stem: insights from RESEARCH (Rapamycin-Eluting Stent Evaluated at Rotterdam Cardiology Hospital) and T-SEARCH (Taxus-Stent Evaluated at Rotterdam Cardiology Hospital) Registries.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We investigated the long-term clinical outcomes and independent predictors of major cardiac events in unprotected left main coronary artery disease (ULMCA) patients treated by percutaneous coronary intervention with drug-eluting stent (DES).
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  There is limited information on long-term (>3 years) outcomes after DES implantation for ULMCA. Furthermore, bifurcation angle and SYNTAX (Synergy between Percutaneous Coronary Intervention with Taxus and Cardiac Surgery) score are emerging as parameters for patient risk stratification, and their prognostic implications have still to be elucidated.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred forty-eight patients with ULMCA treated with DES were analyzed and compared with a historical cohort of 79 patients who received bare-metal stents for the treatment of ULMCA. Patient-oriented composite end point was defined as the occurrence of all-cause death, any myocardial infarction, or any revascularization.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 4-year cumulative incidence of all-cause death, any myocardial infarction, any revascularization, and patient-oriented composite were 35.6%, 3.8%, 25.2%, and 54.4%, respectively. These end points had relatively increased from 1 year to 4 years by Delta70%, Delta5%, Delta50%, and Delta68%, respectively. When compared with a historical cohort who received bare-metal stents for ULMCA treatment, landmark analysis performed after the first 2 years of follow-up demonstrated that the DES cohort had significantly higher patient-oriented composite end point over the last 2 years of follow-up (26% vs. 8%, p = 0.02). EuroSCORE (European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation), cardiogenic shock, and SYNTAX score were identified as independent predictors for the 4-year patient-oriented composite, whereas bifurcation angle was not.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Late increase in patient-oriented composite end points after DES implantation for ULMCA warrants careful and long-term follow-up. SYNTAX score and EuroSCORE appear to have a significant prognostic value in long-term patient risk.
authors.affiliation: Thoraxcenter, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Yoshinobu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Onuma
authors.forename: Chrysafios
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Girasis
authors.forename: Nicolo
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Piazza
authors.forename: Hector M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Garcia-Garcia
authors.forename: Neville
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kukreja
authors.forename: Scot
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Garg
authors.forename: Jannet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Eindhoven
authors.forename: Jin-Ming
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Valgimigli
authors.forename: Ron
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: van Domburg
authors.forename: Patrick W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Serruys
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000401:mortality; D002317:Cardiovascular Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D023921:Coronary Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D054855:Drug-Eluting Stents; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D008670:Metals; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction; D009426:Netherlands; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018579:Patient Selection; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D012042:Registries; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D020123:Sirolimus / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015607:Stents; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D002317:Cardiovascular Agents; D008670:Metals; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D017239:Paclitaxel; D020123:Sirolimus