title: Current State of Bioabsorbable Polymer-Coated Drug-Eluting Stents.
abstract: Drug-eluting stents (DES) have been shown to significantly reduce clinical and angiographic restenosis compared to bare metal stents (BMS). The polymer coatings on DES elute antiproliferative drugs to inhibit intimal proliferation and prevent restenosis after stent implantation. Permanent polymers which do not degrade in vivo may increase the likelihood of stent-related delayed arterial healing or polymer hypersensitivity. In turn, these limitations may contribute to an increased risk of late clinical events. Intuitively, a polymer which degrades after completion of drug release, leaving an inert metal scaffold in place, may improve arterial healing by removing a chronic source of inflammation, neoatherosclerosis, and/or late thrombosis. In this way, a biodegradable polymer may reduce late ischemic events. Additionally, improved healing after stent implantation could reduce the requirement for long-term dual antiplatelet therapy and the associated risk of bleeding and cost. This review will focus on bioabsorbable polymer-coated DES currently being evaluated in clinical trials.
authors.affiliation: Creighton University Medical Center, Omaha, NE, United States.
authors.forename: Abhilash
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Akinapelli
authors.affiliation: Northside Hospital, Atlanta, GA, United States.
authors.forename: Jack P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Boston Scientific, Marlborough, MA, United States.
authors.forename: Kristine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Roy
authors.affiliation: Boston Scientific, Marlborough, MA, United States.
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Donnelly
authors.affiliation: Boston Scientific, Marlborough, MA, United States.
authors.forename: Keith
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dawkins
authors.affiliation: Boston Scientific, Marlborough, MA, United States.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Huibregtse
authors.affiliation: Boston Scientific, Marlborough, MA, United States.
authors.forename: Dongming
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hou
keywords: BMS; Bioabsorbable polymer; abluminal coating; clinical trials; drug-eluting stent.