Drug-eluting stent
Drug-eluting stent has been studied in 3 papers since 2020: 2 observational studies in people, 1 in animals; 2 in the past year. The newest paper, Mar 26, 2026: “Efficacy and safety of rapamycin-eluting stents for vertebral artery stenosis in the V1 segment: a real-world retrospective cohort study”.
3 papers study it4 findingsUpdated
“DES (HR 0.93, 95% CI: 0.92-0.95) were associated with a lower risk of the composite outcome.”
None of its findings points the other way.
- 2 independent labs in 2 countries
- 1 of 4 findings with company ties
- Humans2
- Animals1
What did studies of Drug-eluting stent find?
3Studies of Drug-eluting stent measured 3 outcomes; the most studied are periprocedural stroke (1 study), stroke recurrence (1) and stent patency (1).
Periprocedural stroke
no changein humans1
1 study
Periprocedural stroke
no changein humans1
Drug-eluting stent was not clearly linked with periprocedural stroke in humans (vertebral artery V1 segment stenosis, compared with bare-metal stent) (1.1% vs 2.0% stroke within 30 days).
“There were no statistically significant differences in operation time, technical success rate, and the periprocedural stroke rates between the two groups (all P>0.05)”
Humansvertebral artery V1 segment stenosis, compared with bare-metal stentrapamycin-elutingvertebral artery30 daysn = 191
Zhonghua wai ke za zhi [Chinese journal of surgery]
Stroke recurrence
downin humans1
1 study
Stroke recurrence
downin humans1
Drug-eluting stent is linked with lower stroke recurrence in humans (vertebral artery V1 segment stenosis, compared with bare-metal stent) (stroke-free survival 97.8% vs 89.5% at 12 months).
“significantly higher stent patency and a lower stroke recurrence rate compared to BMS at 12 months follow-up”
Humansvertebral artery V1 segment stenosis, compared with bare-metal stentrapamycin-elutingvertebral artery12 monthsn = 95
Zhonghua wai ke za zhi [Chinese journal of surgery]
Stent patency
upin humans1
1 study
Stent patency
upin humans1
Drug-eluting stent is linked with higher stent patency in humans (vertebral artery V1 segment stenosis, compared with bare-metal stent) (94.5% vs 83.2% patency at 12 months).
“the DES group demonstrated significantly higher stent patency rates (94.5%(86/91) vs. 83.2%(79/95), χ2=5.838,P=0.016)”
Humansvertebral artery V1 segment stenosis, compared with bare-metal stentrapamycin-elutingvertebral artery12 monthsn = 95
Zhonghua wai ke za zhi [Chinese journal of surgery]
What is Drug-eluting stent linked with?
1Studies link Drug-eluting stent with 1 measure, most often all-cause mortality or major amputation (1 study).
All-cause mortality or major amputation
downin humans1HR 0.93
1 study
All-cause mortality or major amputation
downin humans1HR 0.93
Drug-eluting stent is associated with all-cause mortality or major amputation in humans (HR 0.93, 95% CI 0.92–0.95).
“DES (HR 0.93, 95% CI: 0.92-0.95) were associated with a lower risk of the composite outcome.”
HumansChronic limb-threatening ischemia; compared with plain balloon angioplasty with or without bare metal stentsn = 108,304
EuroIntervention : journal of EuroPCR in collaboration with the Working Group on Interventional Cardiology of the European Society of Cardiology