Efficacy and safety of biodegradable polymer biolimus-eluting stents versus durable polymer drug-eluting stents: a meta-analysis.
BACKGROUND
Drug-eluting stents (DES) with biodegradable polymers have been developed to address the risk of thrombosis associated with first-generation DES. We aimed to determine the efficacy and safety of biodegradable polymer biolimus-eluting stents (BES) versus durable polymer DES.


METHODS
Systematic database searches of MEDLINE (1950 to June 2013), EMBASE (1966 to June 2013), the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (Issue 6 of 12, June 2013), and a review of related literature were conducted. All randomized controlled trials comparing biodegradable polymer BES versus durable polymer DES were included.


RESULTS
Eight randomized controlled trials investigating 11,015 patients undergoing percutaneous coronary interventions were included in the meta-analysis. The risk of major adverse cardiac events did not differ significantly between the patients treated with the biodegradable polymer BES and the durable polymer DES (Relative risk [RR], 0.970; 95% CI, 0.848-1.111; p = 0.662). However, biodegradable polymer BES was associated with reduced risk of very late ST compared with the durable polymer DES, while the risk of early or late ST was similar (RR for early or late ST, 1.167; 95% CI 0.755-1.802; p = 0.487; RR 0.273; 95% CI 0.115-0.652; p = 0.003; p for interaction = 0.003).


CONCLUSIONS
In this meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials, treatments with biodegradable polymer BES did not significantly reduce the risk of major adverse cardiac events, but demonstrated a significantly lower risk of very late ST when compared to durable polymer DES. This conclusion requires confirmation by further studies with long-term follow-up.
http://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.asp?ID=CRD42013004364#.UnM2lfmsj6J.
Department of Cardiology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College & Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.
Yicong
Y
Ye
Hongzhi
H
Xie
Yong
Y
Zeng
Xiliang
X
Zhao
Zhuang
Z
Tian
Shuyang
S
Zhang
D063566:Biodegradable Plastics / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D054855:Drug-Eluting Stents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016239:MEDLINE; D008297:Male; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012307:Risk Factors; D020123:Sirolimus / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use
D063566:Biodegradable Plastics; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D020123:Sirolimus