New coronary artery disease treatment with Biolimus-A9 stents and antiplatelet therapy proves to be safe and effective

This study looked at the effectiveness and safety of biolimus-eluting stents with 6 months antiplatelet therapy among patients with coronary artery disease. 

Stenting (balloon angioplasty) is a surgery carried out on patients with coronary artery disease. Coronary artery disease refers to a condition caused by the narrowing of blood vessels that supply the heart with blood, oxygen and nutrients, often due to cholesterol buildup. 

Stenting surgery involves the insertion of a small flexible tube into the blood vessel, normally in the groin area. The tube is moved along the blood system until it reaches the narrowed artery and a small balloon within the tube is then inflated in the artery to dilate it and improve blood flow. Sometimes the stent is a drug-eluting stent that slowly releases a drug over time to help prevent the blockage from recurring and the need for repeat stenting. An example of a drug eluting stent includes BioMatrix that releases the drug biolimus.

Antiplatelet medicines, including aspirin, thin the blood and prevent blood clots from forming by inhibiting the blood clot forming agents, platelets. This can prevent a heart attack or stroke in people who have coronary artery disease or who have had stent surgery. People with drug-eluting stents often receive dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) which means they receive a combination of aspirin and other platelet inhibitor drugs to help provide long-term protection against blood clots. 

This study evaluated the long-term outcome in patients treated with biolimus-eluting stents who received 6 months of dual antiplatelet therapy. The study included 692 patients (77% male), aged on average 66 years old. The study found that between 6-12 months after surgery, there were 42 deaths (6.1%); 4.2 % at 0-6 months, 1% at 6-12 months and 0.9% at >12 months. Of the 7 deaths between 6-12 months, one death was considered to be caused by possible stent blood clotting. There were no recorded cases of non-fatal stent blood clots. 

The authors concluded that implantation of biolimus-eluting coronary stents and 6 months of dual antiplatelet treatment appears to be adequate, safe and effective. 

It is not known whether patients were compliant with the 6-months anti-platelet regimen, and therefore may add some discrepancy to the data. 

If you or someone you know have coronary artery disease and considering stentning surgery, talk to a doctor about the different stents and antiplatelet therapies available.