METHOD: Two hundred and eighty-four consecutive patients (pts) receiving ³3.0 mm CS or DES in de Novo lesions over a four month period were reviewed. All index and subsequent angiograms were analyzed by 2 blinded cardiologists. Clinical ISR were also established by either clinic or telephone follow-up.

RESULTS: In total, 361 stents (CS [322], DES [39]) were deployed in 315 lesions. Baseline patient demographics were similar among patient groups. Risk factors for ISR including diabetes, vein grafts, chronic total occlusions, and lesion length were similar among the groups. Drug eluting stents were more likely to be used than CS in an ostial lesion (15.8% vs 2.5%, P<0.01). Target lesion revascularization (TLR) and target vessel revascularization (TVR) rates at a mean 5 month follow-up are shown below (Table). CS pts with ISR have longer stent lengths than those without (22.7±9.6 vs 17.7±7.5, P<0.01). Stents ³20 mm in length were more often deployed in these pts than those without ISR (50% vs 24%, P=0.02).

CONCLUSIONS: Cobalt chromium stents ³3.0 mm showed no significant differences in clinical restenosis rates compared to DES. In this study, clinical restenosis rates associated with CS were less than previous historical control rates reported for thin-strut BMS. Cobalt chromium stents present a new competitive option which may prove cost effective in comparison to DES when used in ³3.0 mm vessels.