The rate of the primary endpoint, in-segment late loss (a measure of how much the artery re-narrows following stenting) was also reduced by 50% with the Xience V stent compared to Taxus. There were no significant differences in other secondary endpoints between the two stent types, including target vessel failure (a combination of repeat procedures anywhere in the involved blood vessel and adverse cardiac events), as well as stent thrombosis (dangerous blood clots that can form within the stent).
“Both the primary endpoint of the trial and the major secondary endpoint were met,” said Gregg W. Stone, MD, Chairman, Cardiovascular Research Foundation and Professor of Medicine, Columbia University Medical Center. “Moreover, the reduction in major adverse cardiac events with the Xience V stent compared to the Taxus stent is an important finding that signifies improved long-term outcomes for patients with heart disease. Given this positive finding, which has never before been seen in a pivotal drug-eluting stent vs. stent trial, coupled with the ease of use of Xience, will result in this device becoming a favored drug-eluting stent for clinicians treating coronary disease.”
“Further studies are required to determine whether there are meaningful differences between the two stent types in low frequency safety events, and in important subgroups,” Stone added.-Cardiovascular Research Foundation
