Percutaneous coronary intervention utilizing a new endothelial progenitor cells antibody-coated stent: A prospective single-center registry in high-risk patients

Objective: To prospectively evaluate the outcome with circulating endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) capture stent implantation in a cohort of consecutive patients with high-risk angiographic and/or clinical features. Background: Genous R-stent™ is a stainless steel coronary stent covered with antibodies specific to EPCs surface antigens, designed to promote the formation of a confluent functional endothelial layer over the device; conceivably, this may prevent both stent thrombosis and restenosis. Methods: From November 2005 to March 2007, 80 patients received 93 EPC capture stents at Campus Bio-Medico, University of Rome. Patients had two or more of the following high-risk features: diabetes mellitus (33%), unstable coronary syndromes (73%), left ventricular dysfunction (8%), multivessel intervention (9%), B2/C lesions (56%). Results: Acute success was achieved in 79/80 patients (98%), without Q-wave myocardial infarction (MI), in-hospital death or emergency bypass surgery; no patient had acute or subacute stent thrombosis. Follow-up was available in 78 patients (mean 14 ± 4 months): noncardiac death occurred in one patient, acute MI in one patient; no patient required bypass surgery; 10 patients (13%) underwent percutaneous target lesion revascularization (TLR); three patients (4%) had reintervention on a nontarget vessel. Kaplan-Meyer life-table analysis showed event-free survival of 86% and TLR-free survival of 90% at one and a half year follow-up. Conclusions: The cell capture stent is safe and effective, with satisfactory immediate results and mid-term outcome, without evidence of stent thrombosis. Whether those devices represent a viable alternative to currently available drug-eluting or bare metal stents will need to be evaluated in larger randomized studies.