OBJECTIVEThis prospective random control study was performed to compare the efficacy and safety of primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with biodegradable polymer (Excel) and with durable polymer (Cypher Select) sirolimus-eluting stents in patients with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).

METHODSConsecutive patients with STEMI underwent primary PCI were randomly divided into Cypher group (n = 113) and Excel group (n = 115). The primary endpoints were major adverse cardiac events (MACE, including death, reinfarction and target vessel revascularization) within 12 months. The second endpoints included late luminal loss and restenosis at 9 months.

RESULTSAngiographic follow-up data at 9 months were available in 43 (38%) patients in Cypher group and 48 (42%) in Excel group. The rates of in-stent restenosis and in-segment restenosis were 2.3% vs. 2.1% (P = 0.937) and 4.7% vs. 6.3% (P = 0.738), respectively. The late luminal loss of in-stent and in-segment were (0.17 ± 0.26) mm vs. (0.18 ± 0.33) mm (P = 0.483) and (0.19 ± 0.36) mm vs. (0.20 ± 0.42) mm (P = 0.419), respectively. There were no significant differences in death (3.5% vs. 2.6%, P = 0.692), reinfarction (1.8% vs. 2.6%, P = 0.658), target vessel revascularization (1.8% vs. 2.6%, P = 0.658), MACE (5.3% vs. 6.1%, P = 0.788) or stent thrombosis (4.4% vs. 3.5%, P = 0.692) at 12 months between Cyper group and Excel group.

CONCLUSIONSExcel and Cypher Select stents may have similar mid-term efficacy and safety in patients with STEMI treated with primary PCI.Further investigation is warranted to validate the long-term efficacy and safety.