[Batimastat-eluting stent implantation for the treatment of coronary artery disease: results of the Brazilian pilot study].

Objective: The excellent results obtained with sirolimus (rapamicin)-eluting stents for preventing restenosis have motivated the evaluation of other substances with that property. Batimastat is a highly effective metalloproteinase enzyme blocker, with the potential to reduce the degradation of extracellular matrix and to inhibit the migration of smooth muscle cells, with the consequent capacity to control coronary restenosis.

Methods: From October 2001 to April 2002, 34 patients were prospectively selected with de novo lesions in a native coronary artery > 50% and < 100%, which could be treated with stents of 3 to 4 mm in diameter and 18 mm in length. The primary outcome of the study was to assess the occurrence of major cardiovascular events (death of cardiac origin, acute myocardial infarction, and the need for revascularizing the target vessel) by the 30th day and fourth month; the secondary outcome of the study was to assess the rate of coronary restenosis 4 months after implantation and subacute thrombosis by the 30th day.

Results: The success rate of the procedure was 97.1%. The primary outcome occurred in 2.9% and 27.2% of the patients by the 30th day and fourth month, respectively. The binary restenosis rate on angiography was 39.3%. No episode of subacute thrombosis occurred. The comparative analysis between groups with and without restenosis showed no significant difference between both, except for late luminal loss, which was greater in G-I.

Conclusion: Batimastat-eluting stents had a good safety profile; however, they were not effective in controlling coronary restenosis.