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Background: The optimal duration of antiplatelet therapy (APT) after coronary stenting in patients at high bleeding risk (HBR) presenting with an acute coronary syndrome remains unclear.Objectives: The objective of this study was to investigate the safety and efficacy of an abbreviated APT regimen after coronary stenting in an HBR population presenting with acute or recent myocardial infarction.Methods: In the MASTER DAPT trial, 4,579 patients at HBR were randomized after 1 month of dual APT (DAPT) to abbreviated (DAPT stopped and 11 months single APT or 5 months in patients with oral anticoagulants) or nonabbreviated APT (DAPT for minimum 3 months) strategies. Randomization was stratified by acute or recent myocardial infarction at index procedure. Coprimary outcomes at 335 days after randomization were net adverse clinical outcomes events (NACE); major adverse cardiac and cerebral events (MACCE); and type 2, 3, or 5 Bleeding Academic Research Consortium bleeding.Results: NACE and MACCE did not differ with abbreviated vs nonabbreviated APT regimens in patients with an acute or recent myocardial infarction (n = 1,780; HR: 0.83; 95% CI: 0.61-1.12 and HR: 0.86; 95% CI: 0.62-1.19, respectively) or without an acute or recent myocardial infarction (n = 2,799; HR: 1.03; 95% CI: 0.77-1.38 and HR: 1.13; 95% CI: 0.80-1.59; Pinteraction = 0.31 and 0.25, respectively). Bleeding Academic Research Consortium 2, 3, or 5 bleeding was significantly reduced in patients with or without an acute or recent myocardial infarction (HR: 0.65; 95% CI: 0.46-0.91 and HR: 0.71; 95% CI: 0.54-0.92; Pinteraction = 0.72) with abbreviated APT.Conclusions: A 1-month DAPT strategy in patients with HBR presenting with an acute or recent myocardial infarction results in similar NACE and MACCE rates and reduces bleedings compared with a nonabbreviated DAPT strategy. (Management of High Bleeding Risk Patients Post Bioresorbable Polymer Coated Stent Implantation With an Abbreviated Versus Prolonged DAPT Regimen [MASTER DAPT]; NCT03023020). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to compare the safety and efficacy of the Xience V (Abbott Vascular, Santa Clara, California) everolimus-eluting stent (EES) with the Taxus Liberté (Boston Scientific, Natick, Massachusetts) paclitaxel-eluting stent (PES) at 2-year follow-up. Background: COMPARE (Comparison of the everolimus eluting XIENCE-V stent with the paclitaxel eluting TAXUS LIBERTÉ stent in all-comers: a randomized open label trial) demonstrated a superior clinical outcome of EES over PES at 1 year in all comers. Whether this superiority is maintained after discontinuation, at 12 months, of dual antiplatelet therapy is unclear. Methods: Patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention with limited exclusion criteria were randomly allocated to EES or PES. The 2-year pre-specified endpoints are composites of safety and efficacy and stent thrombosis. Results: Follow-up was completed in 1,795 of 1,800 patients (99.7%). The groups had similar baseline characteristics. At 2 years, significantly fewer EES patients took dual antiplatelet therapy (11.4% vs. 15.4%, p = 0.02). The primary composite of all death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, and target vessel revascularization occurred in 9.0% of EES patients and 13.7% of PES patients (relative risk [RR]: 0.66; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.50 to 0.86) driven by a lower rate of myocardial infarction (3.9% vs. 7.5%; RR: 0.52; 95% CI: 0.35 to 0.77) and target vessel revascularization (3.2% vs. 8.0%; RR: 0.41; 95% CI: 0.27 to 0.62), in parallel with a lower rate of definite or probable stent thrombosis (0.9% vs. 3.9%; RR: 0.23; 95% CI: 0.11 to 0.49). Differences significantly increased between 1- and 2-year follow-up for the primary composite endpoint (p = 0.04), target vessel revascularization (p = 0.02), and definite or probable stent thrombosis (p = 0.02). Conclusions: The substantial clinical benefit of the EES over the PES with regard to measures of both safety and efficacy is maintained at 2 years in real-life practice with an increasing benefit in terms of safety and efficacy between 1 year and 2 years. Comparison of the everolimus eluting XIENCE-V stent with the paclitaxel eluting TAXUS LIBERTÉ stent in all-comers: a randomized open label trial: The COMPARE Trial [COMPARE 1]; NCT01016041) [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objectives: We report on the procedural and six-month results of the first percutaneous and stand-alone study on myocardial repair with autologous skeletal myoblasts.Background: Preclinical studies have shown that skeletal myoblast transplantation to injured myocardium can partially restore left ventricular (LV) function.Methods: In a pilot safety and feasibility study of five patients with symptomatic heart failure (HF) after an anterior wall infarction, autologous skeletal myoblasts were obtained from the quadriceps muscle and cultured in vitro for cell expansion. After a culturing process, 296 +/- 199 million cells were harvested (positive desmin staining 55 +/- 30%). With a NOGA-guided catheter system (Biosense-Webster, Waterloo, Belgium), 196 +/- 105 million cells were transendocardially injected into the infarcted area. Electrocardiographic and LV function assessment was done by Holter monitoring, LV angiography, nuclear radiography, dobutamine stress echocardiography, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).Results: All cell transplantation procedures were uneventful, and no serious adverse events occurred during follow-up. One patient received an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator after transplantation because of asymptomatic runs of nonsustained ventricular tachycardia. Compared with baseline, the LV ejection fraction increased from 36 +/- 11% to 41 +/- 9% (3 months, p = 0.009) and 45 +/- 8% (6 months, p = 0.23). Regional wall analysis by MRI showed significantly increased wall thickening at the target areas and less wall thickening in remote areas (wall thickening at target areas vs. 3 months follow-up: 0.9 +/- 2.3 mm vs. 1.8 +/- 2.4 mm, p = 0.008).Conclusions: This pilot study is the first to demonstrate the potential and feasibility of percutaneous skeletal myoblast delivery as a stand-alone procedure for myocardial repair in patients with post-infarction HF. More data are needed to confirm its safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coronary microvascular dysfunction is a highly prevalent condition of both structural and functional coronary disorders in patients with angina and nonobstructive coronary artery disease (ANOCA). Current diagnostic modalities to assess microvascular function are related to prognosis, but these modalities have several technical shortcomings and lack the opportunity to determine true coronary blood flow and microvascular resistance. Intracoronary continuous thermodilution assessment of absolute coronary flow (Q) and microvascular resistance (R) was recently shown to be safe and feasible in ANOCA. Further exploration and implementation could lead to a better understanding and treatment of patients with ANOCA. This review discuss the coronary pathophysiology of microvascular dysfunction, provides an overview of noninvasive and invasive diagnostics, and focuses on the novel continuous thermodilution method. Finally, how these measurements of absolute Q and R could be integrated and how this would affect future clinical care are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Studies examining sex-related outcomes following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) have reported conflicting results.Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine the sex-related risk of 5-year cardiovascular outcomes after PCI.Methods: The authors pooled patient-level data from 21 randomized PCI trials and assessed the association between sex and major adverse cardiac events (MACE) (cardiac death, myocardial infarction [MI], or ischemia-driven target lesion revascularization [ID-TLR]) as well as its individual components at 5 years.Results: Among 32,877 patients, 9,141 (27.8%) were women. Women were older and had higher body mass index, more frequent hypertension and diabetes, and less frequent history of surgical or percutaneous revascularization compared with men. By angiographic core laboratory analysis, lesions in women had smaller reference vessel diameter and shorter lesion length. At 5 years, women had a higher unadjusted rate of MACE (18.9% vs. 17.7%; p = 0.003), all-cause death (10.4% vs. 8.7%; p = 0.0008), cardiac death (4.9% vs. 4.0%; p = 0.003) and ID-TLR (10.9% vs. 10.2%; p = 0.02) compared with men. By multivariable analysis, female sex was an independent predictor of MACE (hazard ratio [HR:]: 1.14; 95% confidence interval [CI:]: 1.01 to 1.30; p = 0.04) and ID-TLR (HR: 1.23; 95% CI: 1.05 to 1.44; p = 0.009) but not all-cause death (HR: 0.91; 95% CI: 0.75 to 1.09; p = 0.30) or cardiac death (HR: 0.97; 95% CI: 0.73 to 1.29; p = 0.85).Conclusions: In the present large-scale, individual patient data pooled analysis of contemporary PCI trials, women had a higher risk of MACE and ID-TLR compared with men at 5 years following PCI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The majority of stent-related major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) are believed to occur within the first year. Very-late (>1-year) stent-related MACE have not been well described.Objectives: The purpose of this study was to assess the frequency and predictors of very-late stent-related events or MACE by stent type.Methods: Individual patient data from 19 prospective, randomized metallic stent trials maintained at a leading academic research organization were pooled. Very-late MACE (a composite of cardiac death, myocardial infarction [MI], or ischemia-driven target lesion revascularization [ID-TLR]), and target lesion failure (cardiac death, target-vessel MI, or ID-TLR) were assessed within year 1 and between 1 and 5 years after PCI with bare-metal stents (BMS), first-generation drug-eluting stents (DES1) and second-generation drug-eluting stents (DES2). A network meta-analysis was performed to evaluate direct and indirect comparisons.Results: Among 25,032 total patients, 3,718, 7,934, and 13,380 were treated with BMS, DES1, and DES2, respectively. MACE rates within 1 year after PCI were progressively lower after treatment with BMS versus DES1 versus DES2 (17.9% vs. 8.2% vs. 5.1%, respectively, p < 0.0001). Between years 1 and 5, very-late MACE occurred in 9.4% of patients (including 2.9% cardiac death, 3.1% MI, and 5.1% ID-TLR). Very-late MACE occurred in 9.7%, 11.0%, and 8.3% of patients treated with BMS, DES1, and DES2, respectively (p < 0.0001), linearly increasing between 1 and 5 years. Similar findings were observed for target lesion failure in 19,578 patients from 12 trials. Findings were confirmed in the network meta-analysis.Conclusions: In this large-scale, individual patient data pooled study, very-late stent-related events occurred between 1 and 5 years after PCI at a rate of ∼2%/year with all stent types, with no plateau evident. New approaches are required to improve long-term outcomes after PCI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although previous observational studies have documented late luminal enlargement and expansive remodeling following implantation of a bioresorbable vascular scaffold (BVS), no comparison with metallic stents has been conducted in a randomized fashion.Objectives: This study sought to compare vessel remodeling patterns after either Absorb BVS or Xience metallic drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation (Abbott Vascular, Santa Clara, California) and determine the independent predictors of remodeling.Methods: In the ABSORB II randomized trial, 383 lesions (n = 359) were investigated by intravenous ultrasound both post-procedure and at 3-year follow-up. According to vessel and lumen area changes over 3 years, we categorized 9 patterns of vessel remodeling that were beyond the reproducibility of lumen and vessel area measurements.Results: The relative change in mean vessel area was significantly greater with the BVS compared to the DES (6.7 ± 12.6% vs. 2.9 ± 11.5%; p = 0.003); the relative change in mean lumen area was significantly different between the 2 arms (1.4 ± 19.1% vs. -1.9 ± 10.5%, respectively; p = 0.031). Multivariate analysis indicated that use of the BVS, female sex, balloon-artery ratio >1.25, expansion index ≥0.8, previous percutaneous coronary intervention, and higher level of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were independent predictors of expansive remodeling. Furthermore, in the BVS arm, necrotic core pre-procedure was an independent determinant of expansive remodeling.Conclusions: Expansive vessel wall remodeling was more frequent and intense with the BVS than the metallic DES and could be determined by patient baseline characteristics and periprocedural factors. The clinical effect of the observed lumen and vessel remodeling must be investigated in further large clinical studies to optimize the clinical outcome of patients and lesions treated by bioresorbable scaffolds. (ABSORB II Randomized Controlled Trial; NCT01425281). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Long-term benefits of coronary stenosis treatment with an everolimus-eluting bioresorbable scaffold are unknown.Objectives: This study sought to evaluate clinical and imaging outcomes 5 years after bioresorbable scaffold implantation.Methods: In the ABSORB multicenter, single-arm trial, 45 (B1) and 56 patients (B2) underwent coronary angiography, intravascular ultrasound (IVUS), and optical coherence tomography (OCT) at different times. At 5 years, 53 patients without target lesion revascularization underwent final imaging.Results: Between 6 months/1 year and 5 years, angiographic luminal late loss remained unchanged (B1: 0.14 ± 19 mm vs. 0.13 ± 0.33 mm; p = 0.7953; B2: 0.23 ± 0.28 mm vs. 0.18 ± 0.32 mm; p = 0.5685). When patients with a target lesion revascularization were included, luminal late loss was 0.15 ± 0.20 mm versus 0.15 ± 0.24 mm (p = 0.8275) for B1 and 0.30 ± 0.37 mm versus 0.32 ± 0.48 mm (p = 0.8204) for B2. At 5 years, in-scaffold and -segment binary restenosis was 7.8% (5 of 64) and 12.5% (8 of 64). On IVUS, the minimum lumen area of B1 decreased from 5.23 ± 0.97 mm(2) at 6 months to 4.89 ± 1.81 mm(2) at 5 years (p = 0.04), but remained unchanged in B2 (4.95 ± 0.91 mm(2) at 1 year to 4.84 ± 1.28 mm(2) at 5 years; p = 0.5). At 5 years, struts were no longer discernable by OCT and IVUS. On OCT, the minimum lumen area in B1 decreased from 4.51 ± 1.28 mm(2) at 6 months to 3.65 ± 1.39 mm(2) at 5 years (p = 0.01), but remained unchanged in B2, 4.35 ± 1.09 mm(2) at 1 year and 4.12 ± 1.38 mm(2) at 5 years (p = 0.24). Overall, the 5-year major adverse cardiac event rate was 11.0%, without any scaffold thrombosis.Conclusions: At 5 years, bioresorbable scaffold implantation in a simple stenotic lesion resulted in stable lumen dimensions and low restenosis and major adverse cardiac event rates. (ABSORB Clinical Investigation, Cohort B [ABSORB B]; NCT00856856). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Previous meta-analyses have investigated the relative safety and efficacy profiles of different types of drug-eluting stents (DES) and bare-metal stents (BMS); however, most prior trials in these meta-analyses reported follow-up to only 1 year, and as such, the relative long-term safety and efficacy of these devices are unknown. Many recent studies have now reported extended follow-up data. Objectives This study sought to investigate the long-term safety and efficacy of durable polymer-based DES, bioabsorbable polymer-based biolimus-eluting stents (BES), and BMS by means of network meta-analysis. Methods Randomized controlled trials comparing DES to each other or to BMS were searched through MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases and proceedings of international meetings. Information on study design, inclusion and exclusion criteria, sample characteristics, and clinical outcomes was extracted. Results Fifty-one trials that included a total of 52,158 randomized patients with follow-up duration ≥3 years were analyzed. At a median follow-up of 3.8 years, cobalt-chromium everolimus-eluting stents (EES) were associated with lower rates of mortality, definite stent thrombosis (ST), and myocardial infarction than BMS, paclitaxel-eluting stents (PES), and sirolimus-eluting stents (SES) and less ST than BES. Phosphorylcholine-based zotarolimus-eluting stents had lower rates of definite ST than SES and lower rates of myocardial infarction than BMS and PES. The late rates of target-vessel revascularization were reduced with all DES compared with BMS, with cobalt-chromium EES, platinum chromium-EES, SES, and BES also having lower target-vessel revascularization rates than PES. Conclusions After a median follow-up of 3.8 years, all DES demonstrated superior efficacy compared with BMS. Among DES, second-generation devices have substantially improved long-term safety and efficacy outcomes compared with first-generation devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study sought to investigate the relative safety and efficacy of bioabsorbable polymer (BP)-based biolimus-eluting stents (BES) versus durable-polymer (DP)-drug-eluting stents (DES) and bare-metal stents (BMS) by means of a network meta-analysis. Background: Studies have suggested that BP-BES might reduce the risk of stent thrombosis (ST) and late adverse outcomes compared with first-generation DES. However, the relative safety and efficacy of BP-BES versus newer-generation DES coated with more biocompatible DP have not been investigated in depth. Methods: Randomized controlled trials comparing BP-BES versus currently U.S.-approved DES or BMS were searched through MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases. Information on study design, inclusion and exclusion criteria, sample characteristics, and clinical outcomes was extracted. Results: Data from 89 trials including 85,490 patients were analyzed. At 1-year follow-up, BP-BES were associated with lower rates of cardiac death/myocardial infarction (MI), MI, and target vessel revascularization (TVR) than BMS and lower rates of TVR than fast-release zotarolimus-eluting stents. The BP-BES had similar rates of cardiac death/MI, MI, and TVR compared with other second-generation DP-DES but higher rates of 1-year ST than cobalt-chromium everolimus-eluting stents (CoCr-EES). The BP-BES were associated with improved late outcomes compared with BMS and paclitaxel-eluting stents, considering the latest follow-up data available, with nonsignificantly different outcomes compared with other DP-DES although higher rates of definite ST compared with CoCr-EES. Conclusions: In this large-scale network meta-analysis, BP-BES were associated with superior clinical outcomes compared with BMS and first-generation DES and similar rates of cardiac death/MI, MI, and TVR compared with second-generation DP-DES but higher rates of definite ST than CoCr-EES. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objectives: The authors investigated the relative safety and efficacy of different drug-eluting stents (DES) and bare metal stents (BMS) in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) using a network meta-analysis. Background: The relative safety of DES and BMS in patients with STEMI continues to be debated, and whether advances have been made in this regard with second-generation DES is unknown. Methods: Randomized controlled trials comparing currently U.S. approved DES or DES with BMS in patients with STEMI were searched using MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases. Information on study design, inclusion and exclusion criteria, sample characteristics, and clinical outcomes was extracted. Results: Twenty-two trials including 12,453 randomized patients were analyzed. At 1-year follow-up, cobalt-chromium everolimus eluting stents (CoCr-EES) were associated with significantly lower rates of cardiac death or myocardial infarction (MI) and stent thrombosis (ST) than BMS. Differences in ST were apparent as early as 30 days and were maintained for 2 years. CoCr-EES were also associated with significantly lower rates of 1-year ST than paclitaxel-eluting stents (PES). Sirolimus-eluting stents (SES) were also associated with significantly lower rates of 1-year cardiac death/myocardial infarction than BMS. CoCr-EES, PES, and SES, but not zotarolimus-eluting stents, had significantly lower rates of 1-year target vessel revascularization (TVR) than BMS, with SES also showing lower rates of TVR than PES. Conclusions: In patients with STEMI, steady improvements in outcomes have been realized with the evolution from BMS to first-generation and now second-generation DES, with the most favorable safety and efficacy profile thus far demonstrated with CoCr-EES. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The goal of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of second-generation everolimus-eluting stents (EES) with first-generation sirolimus-eluting stents (SES) in primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Background: Drug-eluting stents (DES) in AMI are still feared for possible late and very late stent thrombosis (ST). Newer-generation DES, with more hemocompatible polymers and improved healing, may show promise regarding increased efficacy of DES with improved safety. However, no randomized trials in AMI are available. Methods: A total of 625 patients with AMI were randomized (2:1) to receive EES or SES in the XAMI (XienceV Stent vs Cypher Stent in Primary PCI for Acute Myocardial Infarction) trial. Primary endpoint was major adverse cardiac events (MACE) at 1 year consisting of cardiac death, nonfatal AMI, or any target vessel revascularization. The study was powered for noninferiority of EES. Secondary endpoints comprised ST rates and MACE rate up to 3 years. Results: The MACE rate was 4.0% for EES and 7.7% for SES; the absolute difference was -3.7% (95% confidence interval: -8.28 to -0.03; p = 0.048) and relative risk was 0.52 (95% confidence interval: 0.27 to 1.00). One-year cardiac mortality was low at 1.5% for EES versus 2.7% for SES (p = 0.36), and 1-year incidence of definite and/or probable ST was 1.2% for EES versus 2.7% for SES (p = 0.21). Conclusions: In this all-comer, randomized, multicenter AMI trial, second-generation EES was noninferior to SES, and superiority for MACE was suggested. ST rate in EES at 1-year was low, but long-term follow-up and larger studies will have to show whether very late ST rates will also be improved in newer DES. (XienceV Stent vs Cypher Stent in Primary PCI for Acute Myocardial Infarction [XAMI]; NTR1123). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The goal of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of second-generation everolimus-eluting stents (EES) with first-generation sirolimus-eluting stents (SES) in primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Background: Drug-eluting stents (DES) in AMI are still feared for possible late and very late stent thrombosis (ST). Newer-generation DES, with more hemocompatible polymers and improved healing, may show promise regarding increased efficacy of DES with improved safety. However, no randomized trials in AMI are available. Methods: A total of 625 patients with AMI were randomized (2:1) to receive EES or SES in the XAMI (XienceV Stent vs Cypher Stent in Primary PCI for Acute Myocardial Infarction) trial. Primary endpoint was major adverse cardiac events (MACE) at 1 year consisting of cardiac death, nonfatal AMI, or any target vessel revascularization. The study was powered for noninferiority of EES. Secondary endpoints comprised ST rates and MACE rate up to 3 years. Results: The MACE rate was 4.0% for EES and 7.7% for SES; the absolute difference was −3.7% (95% confidence interval: −8.28 to −0.03; p = 0.048) and relative risk was 0.52 (95% confidence interval: 0.27 to 1.00). One-year cardiac mortality was low at 1.5% for EES versus 2.7% for SES (p = 0.36), and 1-year incidence of definite and/or probable ST was 1.2% for EES versus 2.7% for SES (p = 0.21). Conclusions: In this all-comer, randomized, multicenter AMI trial, second-generation EES was noninferior to SES, and superiority for MACE was suggested. ST rate in EES at 1-year was low, but long-term follow-up and larger studies will have to show whether very late ST rates will also be improved in newer DES. (XienceV Stent vs Cypher Stent in Primary PCI for Acute Myocardial Infarction [XAMI]; NTR1123) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The aim of this study was to demonstrate that the prevention of early scaffold area shrinkage of the ABSORB BVS (Rev.1.1, Abbott Vascular, Santa Clara, California) was sustained and not simply delayed by a few months. Background: With improved scaffold design and modified manufacturing process of its polymer, the second iteration of ABSORB (BVS 1.1) has improved performance to prevent a scaffold area reduction at 6 months. Methods: Fifty-six patients were enrolled and received 57 ABSORB scaffolds. Quantitative coronary angiography, intravascular ultrasound (IVUS), analysis of radiofrequency backscattering, echogenicity and optical coherence tomography (OCT) were performed at baseline and at 12-month follow-up. Results: Overall the scaffold area remained unchanged with IVUS as well as with OCT, whereas the radiofrequency backscattering and the echogenicity of the struts decreased by 16.8% (p < 0.001) and 20% (p < 0.001), respectively; more specifically, the strut core area on OCT decreased by 11.4% (p = 0.003). Despite the absence of scaffold area loss, pharmacological vasomotion was restored. On an intention-to-treat basis, the angiographic late lumen loss amounted to 0.27 ± 0.32 mm with an IVUS relative decrease in minimal lumen area of 1.94% (p = 0.12), without significant changes in mean lumen area. The OCT at follow-up showed that 96.69% of the struts were covered and that malapposition, initially observed in 18 scaffolds was only detected at follow-up in 4 scaffolds. Two patients experienced peri-procedural and iatrogenic myocardial infarction, respectively, whereas 2 underwent repeat intervention, resulting in the major adverse cardiac event rate of 7.1% (4 of 56). Conclusions: The 12-month performance of the second-generation ABSORB bioresorbable everolimus-eluting scaffold justifies the conduct of a randomized trial against current best standards. (A Clinical Evaluation of the Bioabsorbable Everolimus Eluting Coronary Stent System [BVS EECSS] in the Treatment of Patients With de Novo Native Coronary Artery Lesions; NCT00856856) [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objectives: We investigated the 6-month clinical outcomes after implantation of second-generation 3.0-mm bioresorbable everolimus-eluting vascular scaffolds (BVS) in small coronary vessels (<2.5 mm). Background: BVS are a novel approach to treating coronary lesions and are untested in small vessels. Methods: The ABSORB Cohort B Trial is a multicenter, single-arm, prospective, open-label trial assessing the performance of the second-generation BVS, in which 101 patients were enrolled. The pre-procedural reference vessel diameter (RVD) was assessed by quantitative coronary angiography during post hoc analysis. The vessel size was overestimated, by visual assessment, in 41 patients before implantation of 3.0-mm BVS in vessels with a pre-procedural RVD <2.5 mm. The study population was divided into 2 groups, group I (n = 41) with RVD <2.5 mm and group II (n = 60) with RVD ≥2.5 mm. The composite endpoint of ischemia-driven major adverse cardiac events, defined as ischemia-driven target lesion revascularization, myocardial infarction, or cardiac death, was assessed. Of the 45 patients scheduled for 6-month coronary angiography, 42 patients had the procedure performed, with intravascular ultrasound undertaken in 40 of these patients. Results: At 6 months, no significant differences in ischemia-driven major adverse cardiac events (3 of 41 [7.3%] cases vs. 2 of 60 [3.3%] cases; p = 0.3933) were observed in the small- and large-vessel groups, respectively. No cardiac deaths or episodes of in-scaffold thromboses were seen. Angiographic and intravascular ultrasound follow-up demonstrated no differences in late lumen loss (0.16 ± 0.18 mm vs. 0.21 ± 0.17 mm; p = 0.3525) or percentage lumen area stenosis (17.6 ± 6.0% vs. 19.8 ± 8.5%; p = 0.3643). Conclusions: The second-generation 3.0-mm BVS appears to be safe in small vessels, with similar clinical and angiographic outcomes compared with those of large vessels. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]