Comprehensive meta-analysis on drug-eluting stents versus bare-metal stents during extended follow-up.

Background: Several observational reports have documented both increased and decreased cardiac mortality or Q-wave myocardial infarction with drug-eluting stents compared with bare-metal stents.

Methods: We sought to evaluate the safety and efficacy of drug-eluting stents compared with bare-metal stents early after intervention (<1 year) and late (>1 year) among a broad population of patients, using a meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.

Results: We identified 28 trials with a total of 10,727 patients and a mean follow-up of 29.

Clopidogrel and coronary stents: risks and benefits.

Clopidogrel has become increasingly important in the management of patients with coronary stents. Clopidogrel is an oral agent that acts on the adeno-sine diphosphate receptor to irreversibly inhibit platelet aggregation. Along with aspirin, clopidogrel has a significant role in the treatment of atherothrombotic diseases.

Clopidogrel and risk for acute coronary events.

Clopidogrel bisulfate is a potent adenosine diphosphate receptor blocker that irreversibly inhibits platelet aggregation by preventing the activation of the glycoprotein IIb/IIIa pathway. This helps to prevent thrombus formation and resultant ischemic or thrombotic complications. Clopidogrel was proven to be superior to aspirin in the treatment of atherothrombotic diseases.

Meta-analysis of the role of statin therapy in reducing myocardial infarction following elective percutaneous coronary intervention.

Statin medications initiated during percutaneous coronary intervention have been evaluated in clinical trials mainly to assess if this therapy reduces subsequent restenosis. The benefit of statin therapy on individual cardiovascular outcomes other than restenosis is largely unknown. Hence, a meta-analysis of the available randomized trials was conducted to evaluate individual cardiovascular outcomes with statin therapy compared with placebo after elective percutaneous coronary intervention.

Long-term benefit of statin therapy initiated during hospitalization for an acute coronary syndrome: a systematic review of randomized trials.

Objective: This study sought to determine if the initiation of statin (HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor) therapy during acute coronary syndromes reduces long-term mortality and other adverse cardiac outcomes.

Background: Initiation of statin therapy during acute coronary syndromes has not been shown to reduce mortality, myocardial infarction or stroke within 4 months of follow-up.

Methods: Clinical trials that randomized patients with acute coronary syndromes to early statin therapy compared with less intensive lipid reduction (placebo/lower-dose statin/usual care), and reported long-term outcomes were included for analysis.

Late thrombosis of drug-eluting stents: a meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.

Purpose: Drug-eluting stents are commonly used for percutaneous coronary intervention. Despite excellent clinical efficacy, the association between drug-eluting stents and the risk for late thrombosis remains imprecisely defined.

Methods: We performed a meta-analysis on 14 contemporary clinical trials that randomized 6675 patients to drug-eluting stents (paclitaxel or sirolimus) compared with bare metal stents.