Pharmacokinetic analysis after implantation of everolimus-eluting self-expanding stents in the peripheral vasculature.

Background: A novel self-expanding drug-eluting stent was designed to release everolimus 225 μg/cm(2) to prevent restenosis following peripheral arterial intervention. The purpose of this study was to measure the pharmacokinetic profile of everolimus following stent implantation.

Methods: One hundred four patients with symptomatic peripheral arterial disease underwent implantation of everolimus-eluting stents in the femoropopliteal arteries. In a prespecified subset of 26 patients, blood samples for assay of everolimus content were collected prior to stent implantation, at 1, 4, and 8 hours postprocedure, prior to discharge, and at 1 month postprocedure.

Results: A total of 39 stents, ranging from 28 mm to 100 mm in length, were implanted in 26 patients, resulting in a total delivered everolimus dose range of 3.0 to 7.6 mg. Following the procedure, the maximum observed everolimus blood concentrations (C(max)) varied from 1.83 ± 0.05 ng/mL after implantation of a single 80-mm stent to 4.66 ± 1.78 ng/mL after implantation of two 100-mm stents. The mean time to peak concentration (T(max)) varied from 6.8 hours to 35 hours. The pharmacokinetics of everolimus were dose-proportional in that dose-normalized C(max) and area under the curve values were constant over the studied dose range.

Conclusions: After implantation of everolimus-eluting self-expanding stents in the femoropopliteal arteries, systemic blood concentrations of everolimus are predictable and considerably lower than blood concentrations observed following safe oral administration of everolimus.