Biodegradable Polymer Everolimus-eluting Stent with Shortened DAPT is Safe and Effective for PCI in Patients with Unprotected Left Main Coronary Artery Disease

SAN FRANCISCO – September 26, 2019 – New data from the IDEAL-LM trial found that a biodegradable polymer everolimus-eluting stent (BP-EES) followed by four months of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) was safe and effective compared to a conventional durable polymer everolimus-eluting stent (DP-EES) followed by 12 months of DAPT in patients undergoing PCI for unprotected left main coronary artery (uLMCA) disease.

Findings were reported today at the 31^st annual Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) scientific symposium. Sponsored by the Cardiovascular Research Foundation (CRF), TCT is the world’s premier educational meeting specializing in interventional cardiovascular medicine.

Continuous improvements in stent technology make percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) a potential alternative to surgery in selected patients with uLMCA disease. The optimal duration of DAPT in these patients after PCI remains undetermined and new stent designs using a bioabsorbable polymer may allow a shorter duration of DAPT.

IDEAL-LM is a prospective, randomized, multicenter study conducted at 29 sites in five countries. Between December 2014 and September 2016, a total of 818 patients were randomized 1:1 to BP-EES or to DP-EES. Procedural success was 99.9%, predominantly using single stent techniques (79.6%). DAPT was stopped at four months in the BP-EES arm but continued for 12 months after PCI in the DP-EES arm. The primary endpoint assessment was a non-inferiority comparison of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) rate, including death from any cause, myocardial infarction, or ischemia-driven target vessel revascularization (TVR) at two years after the procedure. Key secondary endpoints included ischemic and bleeding events.

The primary endpoint of non-inferiority for MACE at 24 months was met with 14.6% in the BP-EES group (n=403) compared to 11.4% in the DP-EES (n=396) group (p= 0.17). There were no differences in ischemic events, including no difference in stent thrombosis, between four and 12 months when the antiplatelet therapy was reduced in the BP-EES arm. However, this strategy did not result in a reduction of BARC 3 or 5 bleeding in the short DAPT group, with low-bleeding occurring in both study arms (2.7% for BP-EES versus 0.5% for DP-EES, p=0.02).

“IDEAL-LM confirms the excellent outcomes of current angioplasty techniques in patients with left main coronary artery disease,” said Prof. Robert-Jan Van Geuns, MD, PhD, an interventional cardiologist at RadboudUMC, Nijmegen, The Netherlands and co-principal Investigator of the study. “In addition, short DAPT is an option after angioplasty for left main disease with the latest DES design.” Prof. Keith G. Oldroyd of the Golden Jubilee National Hospital, the other co-principal investigator, commented that the somewhat surprising data on bleeding was likely due to the use of oral anticoagulation in some of the patients who bled and pointed out that the trial was not powered for bleeding events.

The IDEAL LM study was funded by Boston Scientific. The Golden Jubilee National Hospital, Glasgow, United Kingdom, served as sponsor. Dr. Van Geuns reports receiving speaker fees from Boston Scientific, Abbott Vascular and AstraZeneca. Prof Oldroyd reports receiving speaker fees from Abbott Vascular and Biosensors and institutional research support from Boston Scientific.

About CRF and TCT

The Cardiovascular Research Foundation (CRF) is one of the world’s leading nonprofit organizations specializing in interventional cardiology innovation, research, and education. CRF is dedicated to helping doctors improve survival and quality of life for people suffering from heart and vascular disease. For nearly 30 years, CRF has helped pioneer medical advances and educated doctors on the latest treatments for heart disease. CRF is comprised of the CRF Skirball Center for Innovation, CRF Clinical Trials Center, CRF Center for Education, CRF Digital, TCTMD, and Structural Heart: The Journal of the Heart Team.

Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) is the annual scientific symposium of CRF and the premier educational meeting specializing in interventional cardiovascular medicine. Now in its 31st year, TCT features major medical research breakthroughs and gathers leading researchers and clinicians from around the world to present and discuss the latest evidence-based research in the field. TCT also includes interactive training pavilions where clinicians can gain vital skills to apply immediately to their practices.

For more information, visit www.crf.org and www.tctconference.com.

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