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Drug-eluting stents in coronary arteries

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SBU Assessment

Presents a comprehensive, systematic assessment of available scientific evidence for effects on health, social welfare or disability. Full assessments include economic, social and ethical impact analyses. Assessment teams include professional practitioners and academics. Before publication the report is reviewed by external experts, and scientific conclusions approved by the SBU Board of Directors.

Conclusions

  • Compared with bare metal mesh stents, drug-eluting stents prevent the recurrence of narrowing of the coronary artery, without increasing the risk of complications. This applies to both stable and unstable coronary artery disease.
  • Various drug-eluting stents may differ in both effect and risks:
    • Everolimus-eluting stents give rise to fewer stent thromboses than sirolimus-eluting stents, and fewer myocardial infarctions and stent thromboses than paclitaxel-eluting stents.
    • However, in comparative studies, there seem to be no differences in safety or effect of everolimus-, biolimus- or second-generation zotarolimus-eluting stents.

Figure 1 Narrowing in a coronary artery is caused by arteriosclerotic plaque, which can be displaced mechanically by a metal stent expanded by means of a balloon.
Figure 1 Narrowing in a coronary artery is caused by arteriosclerotic plaque, which can be displaced mechanically by a metal stent expanded by means of a balloon.

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How to cite this report: SBU. Drug-eluting stents in coronary arteries. Stockholm: Swedish Council on Health Technology Assessment (SBU); 2014. SBU report no 2014-06 (in Swedish).

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Published: Revised: 12/18/2014 Report no: 2014-06 https://www.sbu.se/201406e
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Project group

Experts

  • Lars Grip, Professor, Sahlgrenska Academy at Gothenburg University
  • Rikard Linder, PhD, Danderyds Sjukhus

SBU

  • Sofia Tranæus, Project Director
  • Anna Attergren Granath, Project Administrator
  • Laura Lintamo, Analyst
  • Lars-Åke Marké, Health Economist
  • Anna Mattsson, Analyst
  • Anders Norlund, Assistant Project Director, Health Economist
  • Karin Rydin, Project Director
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