Long-term comparison of sirolimus-eluting and bare-metal stents in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction

OBJECTIVES We aimed to investigate, in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), whether the previously reported clinical benefits of sirolimus-eluting stent(s) (SES) in terms of reducing a major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular event (MACCE) compared with bare-metal stent(s) (BMS) were maintained over a 5-year time period. BACKGROUND In the prospective single-centre randomized DEBATER trial, SES significantly reduced the rate of MACCE in STEMI patients within 1 year compared with BMS, mainly driven by a reduction of target lesion revascularization. Randomized data on the long-term safety and efficacy of SES in STEMI patients are conflicting and limited. PATIENTS AND METHODS Between January 2006 and May 2008, a total of 907 STEMI patients were randomized to receive SES or BMS. The primary endpoint was MACCE defined as the composite of death, myocardial infarction, stroke, repeat revascularization and bleeding. Five-year follow-up data were collected by reviewing hospital records, telephone calls and a written questionnaire. RESULTS At 5 years, the rate of MACCE between the SES group and the BMS group was no longer significantly different (33.3 vs. 39.3%, P=0.12). The cumulative incidence of death and myocardial infarction was similar in both groups (11.0 vs. 9.7%, P=0.51). Repeat revascularization was performed in 21.1 and 25.8% of patients, respectively (P=0.12). The rate of very late stent thrombosis (1-5 years of follow-up) was very low in both groups (2.0 vs. 0.7%, P=0.12). CONCLUSION The benefits of SES in STEMI patients in terms of reducing MACCE faded over time. We found no safety concerns in terms of SES in the long term, with extremely low rates of very late stent thrombosis

Front Matter and Editorial

Overall survival of patients with anaplastic oligodendroglial tumors has been improved due to the addition of procarbazine, lomustine and vincristine (PCV) chemotherapy to radiotherapy (RT), especially in 1p/19q-codeleted tumors. With improved survival, quality of survival becomes pivotal. We evaluated cognitive functioning and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in a cohort of long-term anaplastic oligodendroglioma survivors. Thirty-two out of 37 long-term survivors included in European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) study 26951 in the Netherlands and France participated. Cognition was assessed using neuropsychological tests for 6 domains, and HRQOL with the EORTC Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30) and Brain Cancer Module (EORTC QLQ-BN20). Fatigue and mood were evaluated. Results were compared to healthy controls and to patients' own HRQOL 2.5 years following initial treatment. At the time of assessment, median survival for the patients was 147 months, 27 were still progression-free since initial treatment. Of progression-free patients, 26% were not, and 30% were severely cognitively impaired; 41% were employed and 81% could live independently. Patients' HRQOL was worse compared to controls, but similar to 2.5 years after initial treatment. Initial treatment (RT versus RT + PCV) was not correlated with cognition or HRQOL. In conclusion, cognitive functioning in long-term anaplastic oligodendroglioma survivors is variable. However, most patients function independently. In progression-free patients, HRQOL is relatively stable during the disease course. In this small sample, no effect of the addition of PCV on cognition or HRQOL was identified