Five-year clinical outcomes of everolimus-eluting stents from the post marketing study of CoCr-EES (XIENCE V/PROMUS) in Japan

Second-generation everolimus-eluting intracoronary stents: a comprehensive review of the clinical evidence

Percutaneous coronary intervention with implantation of second-generation drug-eluting stents (DES) has emerged as a mainstay for the treatment of obstructive coronary artery disease given its beneficial impact on clinical outcomes in these patients. Everolimus-eluting stents (EES) are one of the most frequently implanted second-generation DES; their use for the treatment of a wide range of patients including those with complex coronary lesions is supported by compelling evidence. Although newer stent platforms such as biodegradable polymer DES may lower local vessel inflammation, their efficacy and safety have not yet surpassed that of Xience stents. This article summarizes the properties of the Xience family of EES and the evidence supporting their use across diverse patient demographics and coronary lesion morphologies.

Prognostic Impacts of CHADS2, CHA2DS2-VASc, and CHA2DS2-VASc-HS Scores on Clinical Outcomes After Elective Drug-Eluting Stent Placement for De Novo Coronary Stenosis

Background: The prognostic impact of CHADS2, CHA2DS2-VASc, and CHA2DS2-VASc-HS scores on clinical outcomes after drug-eluting stent (DES) placement has not been fully elucidated. Methods and Results: The present study was a retrospective, non-randomized, single-center, and lesion-based study. Target lesion failure (TLF), comprising cardiac death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, and target vessel revascularization, occurred in 7.1% of 872 consecutive de novo coronary lesions in 586 patients. These patients were electively and exclusively treated by DESs from January 2016 to January 2022 until July 2022 with a mean (±SD) observational interval of 411±438 days. Multivariate Cox proportional hazard analysis revealed that CHA2DS2-VASc-HS scores ≥7 (hazard ratio [HR] 1.800; 95% CI 1.06-3.05; P=0.029) was a significant predictor of cumulative TLF among 24 variables evaluated. CHADS2 scores ≥2 (HR 3.213; 95% CI 1.32-7.80; P=0.010) and CHA2DS2-VASc scores ≥5 (HR 1.980; 95% CI 1.10-3.55; P=0.022) were also significant in the multivariate analysis. Pairwise comparisons of receiver operating characteristic curves for CHADS2 score ≥2, CHA2DS2-VASc score ≥5, and CHA2DS2-VASc-HS score ≥7 showed they were equivalent in terms of predicting the incidence of TLF, with areas under the curve of 0.568, 0.575, and 0.573, respectively. Conclusions: All 3 cardiocerebrovascular thromboembolism risk scores were strong predictors of the incidence of cumulative mid-term TLF after elective DES placement, with cut-off values of 2, 5, and 7, respectively, and equivalent prognostic impacts.

Investigation of the small-balloon technique as a method for retrieving dislodged stents

The small-balloon technique used to retrieve a dislodged coronary stent is less studied. We investigated the small-balloon technique to study the capture force and retrieval rate of dislodged proximal or distal stents. We developed a retrieval model for stent dislodgement and performed bench tests to compare proximal and distal capture. We evaluated capture force by capture site in a fixed stent dislodgement model and capture force and retrieval rate by capture site using a retrieval model of stent dislodgement. Three-dimensional (3D)-micro-computed tomography (CT) was used to scan the captured conditions of the distal (DC) and proximal (PC) groups. Stent, balloon shaft, and guiding catheter (GC) diameters were measured. Retrieval areas within GC were calculated and compared. The force was significantly lower in the PC group than in the DC group (p < 0.01). Successful retrieval was achieved in 100% and 84.8% in the PC and DC groups, respectively. The force required to retrieve the dislodged stent was significantly lower in the PC group than that in the DC group (p < 0.01). The force was significantly lower in the successful cases in the DC group than in the unsuccessful cases (p < 0.01). The retrievable areas in the PC and DC groups were 67.5% and 32.7%, respectively, as calculated from the values measured from the 3D-CT images. The success rate of PC was higher than that of DC using the small-balloon technique. The smaller proximal stent gap in the PC method facilitated the retrieval of the dislodgement stent.

Five-Year Clinical Outcomes After XIENCE PRIME Everolimus Elution Coronary Stent System (EECSS) Implantation

Background/aim: This study was aimed at evaluating 5-year effectiveness and safety in participants after XIENCE PRIME Everolimus Elution Coronary Stent System (EECSS) implantation.

Materials and methods: From December 2013 to May 2014, 108 patients (127 lesions) were treated with the XIENCE PRIME EECSS. The entire follow-up included annual assessments for 5 years after treatment or until one of the clinical endpoints was reached. We evaluated the 5-year clinical outcomes with Kaplan-Meier analysis and the Cox regression model.

Results: Nearly three-quarters of the participants were men (76.8%), and the average age was 65.6 ± 10.8 years. Bifurcation lesions accounted for 96.1% (122 lesions), and left main lesions accounted for 3.9% (five lesions), with a total count of 127 lesions. The cumulative rate of major adverse cardiac events was as follows: 1 year, 1.9%; 2 year, 4.0%; and 5 year, 10.0%. No definite or probable stent thrombosis was observed, and the rate of target lesion failure was only 3.3% over 5 years. The cumulative rate of major bleeding eventually increased to only 4.4%.

Conclusions: The 5-year clinical outcomes were favorable in patients treated with XIENCE PRIME EECSS, and the incidence of stent thrombosis and target lesion failure was relatively low. The incidence of major bleeding gradually increased but remained moderate.

Recent Least Burdensome Approach for the Approval of Innovative Medical Devices in Japan -Regulatory Approval Review of an Everolimus-eluting Bioresorbable Scaffold

Although a domestic trial in Japan revealed that Absorb bioresorbable vascular scaffold (BVS) has no inferiority to everolimus-eluting stent (EES) cohort in the primary endpoint of the target lesion failure at 12 months, the scaffold/stent thrombosis (ST) rates with the BVS at 24 months were higher than those with the EES (Absorb BVS 3.1% vs. EES 1.5%), the ST rate of 3.1% with Absorb BVS is not an acceptable level in Japan. A cause-of-ST analysis revealed that cases in which diagnostic imaging and ensuing post-dilatation had been performed appropriately had lower ST rates than those without such management (within 1 year: 1.37% vs. 7.69%, from 1 to 2 years: 0.00% vs. 8.33%). Therefore, a further evaluation was needed to confirm that the ST rate with the Absorb BVS would be reduced by a proper implementation procedure. Regulatory approval was given conditionally to initiate rigorous post-marketing data collection in order to ensure the proper use of this device in limited facilities. The One-year Use-Result Survey in Japan for the Absorb BVS revealed no instances of ST. This approach to reducing the premarket regulatory burden of clinical trials and enhancing the post-marketing commitments of medical device regulation is useful for expediting patient access to innovative medical devices.

Vascular Response Occurring at 3 Months After Everolimus-Eluting Cobalt-Chromium Stent Implantation in Patients With ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction vs. Stable Coronary Artery Disease

BACKGROUND

Second-generation drug-eluting stents (DES) reduce the incidence of stent thrombosis, even in patients with ST-segment elevated myocardial infarction (STEMI). However, the early local vascular healing after DES implantation in STEMI lesions, which mainly concerns stent thrombosis, is still unclear.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We attempted to determine early local vascular healing 3 months after cobalt-chromium everolimus-eluting stent (CoCr-EES) implantation in STEMI lesions relative to stable coronary artery disease (CAD) lesions. This prospective, multicenter study analyzed 96 total lesions (STEMI=49, stable CAD=51) by frequency domain-optical coherence tomography (FD-OCT) performed post-procedure and at the 3-month follow-up. Although CoCr-EES implanted in STEMI were almost entirely covered at 3 months, they had a relatively high incidence of uncovered struts compared with stable CAD (5.5% vs. 1.6%, P<0.001). Intrastent thrombus in the 2 groups was primarily resolved at the 3-month follow-up (STEMI: 91.7%→26.5%, stable CAD: 74.5%→11.8%). Regarding irregular protrusion, complete resolution was observed in stable CAD (21.6%→0%), while a few stents remained in STEMI (79.2%→8.2%). Although there were almost no changes for the serial change of average lumen area in STEMI, there were slight but significant decreases in stable CAD [STEMI 0.08 (-0.44, 0.55) mm2, stable CAD -0.35 (-0.55, 0.11) mm2; P=0.009].

CONCLUSIONS

Although strut coverage after CoCr-EES implantation for STEMI lesions was slightly delayed, the healing process appeared to be acceptable in both STEMI and stable CAD.

Impact of hemodialysis on clinical and angiographic outcomes in in-stent restenotic lesions following optical coherence tomography-guided drug-coated balloon treatment

Hemodialysis (HD) is associated with a high in-stent restenosis (ISR) rate even in the second-generation era. Drug-coated balloons (DCB) generally provide excellent clinical outcomes in patients with ISR lesions. Nonetheless, safety and efficacy of DCB for ISR lesions in HD patients are largely unknown. A total of 17 centers across Japan participated in this study. Patients were eligible for the study if ISR lesions were treated with DCB. Enrolled patients were divided into 2 groups (HD and non-HD groups). Angiographic, OCT, and clinical outcomes were compared between the HD and the non-HD groups. A total of 210 patients were enrolled (36 patients in the HD group, and 174 patients in the non-HD group). At 8 months, the binary restenosis rate was significantly higher (26.3% versus 11.3%, p = 0.02) and in-segment late loss was significantly higher (0.49 ± 0.61 mm versus 0.23 ± 0.33 mm, p = 0.02) in the HD group than the non-HD group. In the OCT analyses, change of minimum stent area between post- and pre-procedure was significantly smaller in the HD group compared to the non-HD group (0.08 ± 0.95 mm² versus 0.68 ± 1.07 mm², p = 0.004). Target vessel failure (TVF) rate at 2 years was significantly different between the 2 groups (25.0% in the HD group and 12.1% in the non-HD group, p = 0.04). In the multivariate analysis, HD was a significant predictor for TVF (Hazard ratio 5.81, 95% CI 1.28-26.4, p = 0.02). Clinical and angiographic outcomes following OCT-guided DCB treatment in ISR lesions were significantly worse in HD patients compared to non-HD patients.Clinical Trial Registration Information: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02300454.

Sex-Related Differences in Patients at High Bleeding Risk Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: A Patient-Level Pooled Analysis From 4 Postapproval Studies

Background

Women have been associated with higher rates of recurrent events after percutaneous coronary intervention than men, possibly attributable to advanced age at presentation and greater comorbidities. These factors also put women at higher risk of bleeding, which may influence therapeutic strategies and clinical outcomes.

Methods and Results

We performed a patient‐level pooled analysis of 4 postapproval registries to evaluate sex‐related differences in patients at high bleeding risk (HBR) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention. HBR required fulfillment of at least 1 major or 2 minor criteria of the Academic Research Consortium definition. Outcomes of interest were major bleeding and major adverse cardiac events (composite of cardiac death, myocardial infarction, or definite/probable stent thrombosis). Of the total 10 502 patients, 2832 (27.0%) were women. The prevalence of HBR was higher in women compared with men (29.0% versus 20.5%, P<0.0001). Women at HBR were older and had more comorbidities, while men at HBR were more often smokers, with prior myocardial infarction and more complex coronary lesions. At 4 years, women at HBR had significantly higher major bleeding compared with men at HBR (10.8% versus 6.2%, P<0.0001); however, this difference was attenuated after multivariable adjustment (hazard ratio, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.41–2.08). Major adverse cardiac event rates between groups were similar (12.2% versus 12.6%, P=0.82) and remained consistent after adjustment (hazard ratio, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.32–1.28).

Conclusions

The prevalence of HBR was higher in women compared with men, with considerable differences in the distribution of criteria. Women at HBR experienced higher rates of major bleeding but similar major adverse cardiac event rates compared with men at HBR at 4 years.

Long-Term Safety and Efficacy of Durable Polymer Cobalt-Chromium Everolimus-Eluting Stents in Patients at High Bleeding Risk

Background:

Long-term outcomes in patients at high bleeding risk (HBR) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention with a drug-eluting stent are unclear. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate long-term adverse events in HBR patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention with cobalt-chromium everolimus-eluting stent implantation.

Methods:

We analyzed stratified data from 4 all-comers postapproval registries. Patients with at least 1 of the following criteria were categorized as HBR: age ≥75 years, history of major bleeding (MB), history of stroke, chronic oral anticoagulant use, chronic kidney disease, anemia, or thrombocytopenia. Additionally, in a separate analysis, patients were categorized according to the recently published Academic Research Consortium HBR criteria. The Kaplan-Meier method was used for time-to-event analyses. Coronary thrombotic events (CTE) included myocardial infarction or definite/probable stent thrombosis. MB was defined according to the TIMI (Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction) or GUSTO (Global Use of Strategies to Open Occluded Coronary Arteries) scales. Impact of CTE and MB on subsequent risk of mortality was assessed using multivariable Cox regression with MB and CTE included as time-updated covariates.

Results:

Of the total 10 502 patients included, 3507 (33%) were identified as HBR. Compared with non-HBR patients, those at HBR had more comorbidities, higher lesion complexity, and a higher risk of 4-year mortality (Hazard Ratio [HR] 4.38 [95% CI, 3.76–5.11]). Results were qualitatively similar when using Academic Research Consortium criteria to define HBR. Risk of mortality was increased after CTE (HR 5.02 [95% CI, 3.93–6.41]), as well as after MB (HR 4.92 [95% CI, 3.82–6.35]). Of note, this effect was consistent across the spectrum of bleeding risk ( P -interaction test 0.97 and 0.06, respectively).

Conclusions:

Compared with the non-HBR population, HBR patients experienced worse 4-year outcomes after percutaneous coronary intervention with cobalt-chromium everolimus-eluting stent. Both CTE and MB had a significant impact on subsequent risk of mortality irrespective of bleeding risk.

Endovascular procedures cause transient endothelial injury but do not disrupt mature neointima in Drug Eluting Stents

Extensive application of coronary intravascular procedures has led to the increased need of understanding the injury inflicted to the coronary arterial wall. We aimed to investigate acute and prolonged coronary endothelial injury as a result of guidewire use, repeated intravascular imaging and stenting. These interventions were performed in swine (N = 37) and injury was assessed per coronary segment (n = 81) using an Evans Blue dye-exclusion-test. Scanning electron microscopy and light microscopy were then used to visualize the extent and nature of acute (<4 hours) and prolonged (5 days) endothelial injury. Guidewire and imaging injury was mainly associated with denudation and returned to control levels at 5 days. IVUS and OCT combined (Evans Blue staining 28 ± 16%) did not lead to more acute injury than IVUS alone (33 ± 15%). Stent placement caused most injury (85 ± 4%) and despite early stent re-endothelialization at 5 days, the endothelium proved highly permeable (97 ± 4% at 5 days; p < 0.001 vs acute). Imaging of in-stent neointima at 28 days after stent placement did not lead to neointimal rupture. Guidewire, IVUS and OCT induce acute endothelial cell damage, which does not increase during repeated imaging, and heals within 5 days. Interestingly, endothelial permeability increases 5 days post stenting despite near complete re-endothelialization.

Update on Antithrombotic Therapy after Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has become a standard-of-care procedure in the setting of angina or acute coronary syndrome. Antithrombotic therapy is the cornerstone of pharmacological treatment aimed at preventing ischemic events following PCI. Dual antiplatelet therapy as the combination of aspirin and P2Y12 inhibitor has been proven to decrease stent-related thrombotic risks. However, the optimal duration of dual antiplatelet therapy, an appropriate P2Y12 inhibitor, and the choice of aspirin versus P2Y12 inhibitor as single antiplatelet therapy remain controversial. Furthermore, the combined use of oral anticoagulation in addition to antiplatelet therapy is a complex issue in clinical practice, such as in patients with atrial fibrillation. The key challenge concerning the optimal antithrombotic regimen is ensuring a balance between protection against thrombotic events and against excessive increases in bleeding risk. In this review article, we summarize the current evidence concerning antithrombotic therapy in patients with coronary artery disease undergoing PCI.

Cut-off value of strut-vessel distance for the resolution of acute incomplete stent apposition in the early phase using serial optical coherence tomography after cobalt-chromium everolimus-eluting stent implantation

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to identify a cut-off value to predict the resolution of incomplete-stent-apposition (ISA) after cobalt-chromium everolimus-eluting stent (CoCr-EES) implantation at early follow-up.

BACKGROUND

To date, appropriate stent apposition at the acute period using intracoronary imaging has been recommended because persistent ISA is considered to be a risk factor for stent thrombosis. We examined the indices for resolving acute ISA. In particular, we determined the cut-off value for strut vessel distance (SV-distance) as visualized by optical coherence tomography (OCT) at 8 months after CoCr-EES implantation. However, the cut-off value of SV-distance for the earlier resolution of ISA is unclear.

METHODS

A total of 95 cases and 103 stents were registered in the MECHANISM Elective substudy. The SV-distance was measured at the deepest site of the target malapposition and every 1 mm from the proximal edge to the distal edge of the mal-apposed area using OCT. Cut-off values for ISA resolution at 1 and 3 months were estimated by SV-distance using receiver operating characteristic analysis.

RESULTS

The total number of analyzed struts was 14,418 at the 1-month follow-up and 11,986 at the 3-month follow-up. The optimal SV-distance cut-off values just after stent implantation to predict ISA resolution were 185 µm at the 1-month follow-up and 195 μm at the 3-month follow-up.

CONCLUSION

For resolution of ISA, SV-distance cut-off values of 185 µm at 1 month postimplantation and 195 μm at 3 months postimplantation can be used as the index of endpoint of the percutaneous coronary intervention.

Twelve-month comparative analysis of clinical outcomes using biodegradable polymer-coated everolimus-eluting stents versus durable polymer-coated everolimus-eluting stents in all-comer patients

Aim

The purpose of the present study was to examine whether clinical differences exist between the biodegradable polymer (BDP)–coated Tetrilimus everolimus-eluting stent (EES) and the durable polymer (DP)–coated Xience EES by comparing the major adverse cardiac event (MACE) rate at 12 months in all-comer patients.

Methods

This study was designed as a multicentre, observational, retrospective, investigator-initiated study between January 2016 and October 2016. Two hundred thirteen patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with the BDP-EES were compared with 204 patients who underwent PCI with the DP-EES, irrespective of lesion complexity, comorbidities and acute presentation. The primary end point was MACE defined as a composite of cardiac death, myocardial infarction and target lesion revascularization.

Results

Baseline clinical and lesion characteristics of both the groups were similar, although the BDP-EES group had a significantly higher number of patients with diabetes mellitus (39.9% vs. 30.4%; p = 0.042) and type C lesion (67.4% vs. 48.1%; p < 0.001) than the DP-EES group. The 12-month MACE rate was 4.2% for the BDP-EES group versus 4.9% for the DP-EES group (p = 0.740). Mortality was lower in the BDP-EES group than in the DP-EES group (0.9% vs. 2.0%; p = 0.441).

Conclusion

The present comparative analysis shows that the BDP-coated Tetrilimus EES was as safe and effective as the DP-coated Xience EES during the 12-month follow-up period despite complex lesion characteristics.

Prognostic impact of reducing myocardial ischemia identified using ECG-gated myocardial perfusion SPECT in Japanese patients with coronary artery disease: J-ACCESS 4 study

AIM

Whether myocardial ischemia identified using myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) can be an alternative target of coronary revascularization to reduce the incidence of cardiac events remains unclear.

METHODS AND RESULTS

This multicenter, prospective cohort study aimed to clarify the prognostic impact of reducing myocardial ischemia. Among 494 registered patients with possible or definite coronary artery disease (CAD), 298 underwent initial pharmacological stress ^99mTc-tetrofosmin MPI before, and eight months after revascularization or medical therapy, and were followed up for at least one year. Among these, 114 with at least 5% ischemia at initial MPI were investigated. The primary endpoints were cardiac death, non-fatal myocardial infarction and hospitalization for heart failure. Ischemia was reduced ≥5% in 92 patients. Coronary revascularization reduced ischemia (n = 89) more effectively than medical therapy (n = 25). Post-stress cardiac function also improved after coronary revascularization. Ejection fraction significantly improved at stress (61.0% ± 10.7% vs. 65.4% ± 11.3%; p < 0.001) but not at rest (67.1% ± 11.3% vs. 68.3% ± 11.6%; p = 0.144), among patients who underwent revascularization. Rates of coronary revascularization and cardiac events among the 114 patients were significantly higher (13.6%, p = 0.035) and lower (1.1% p = 0.0053), respectively, in patients with, than without ≥5% ischemia reduction. Moreover, patients with complete resolution of ischemia at the time of the second MPI had a significantly better prognosis.

CONCLUSIONS

Reducing ischemia by ≥5% and the complete resolution of ischemia could improve the prognosis of patients with stable CAD.