Objectives: Everolimus-eluting stent (EES) reduces the risk of late and very late stent thrombosis (ST) in a number of randomized controlled trials (RCTs). However, the benefits have been variable.
Materials and methods: We evaluated the effect of EES and paclitaxel-eluting stent (PES) on the risk of late and very late ST in patients with coronary artery disease.
Results: We identified RCTs by a systematic search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Database. Seven RCTs (8162 patients) were included. Overall, EES therapy lowered the risk of very late ST significantly [relative risk (RR), 0.40; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.20-0.80; I(2)=0.0%; P=0.009] compared with PES. Meanwhile, EES was associated with a significantly lower incidence of major adverse cardiac events (RR, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.67-0.86; I(2)=34.2%; P=0.00) driven by a markedly lower rate of myocardial infarction and target-vessel revascularization in the EES group. However, there was no significant difference in the risk of late ST (RR, 0.45; 95% CI, 0.15-1.39; I(2)=30.7%; P=0.166) between the two groups. A subgroup analysis showed that EES might not decrease the risk of very late ST significantly in patients older than 63.5 years or in patients with diabetes, those presenting with acute coronary syndrome, or those with a longer follow-up.
Conclusion: Compared with PES, EES treatment decreased risk of very late ST significantly. However, the risk of late ST was similar between the two groups. More studies are needed to confirm the subgroup findings.