Drug Eluting Stent News and Research

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A drug-eluting stent (DES) is a coronary stent (a scaffold) placed into narrowed, diseased coronary arteries that slowly releases a drug to block cell proliferation. This prevents fibrosis that, together with clots (thrombus), could otherwise block the stented artery, a process called restenosis.

Trial shows antiplatelet therapy needs personalization after stent implantation

Antiplatelet monotherapy reduced bleeding but dual therapy provided greater cardiovascular event protection in patients at high ischemic risk who had undergone stent implantation 12 months earlier.

29 Aug 2026

Drug-coated balloons reduce the need for permanent heart stents

A new sub-study suggests that using a sirolimus-eluting balloon (SEB), a drug-coated balloon, can reduce the number of stents a patient may need, making it a safe and effective way to treat certain heart attacks or unstable chest pain.

23 Apr 2026

One-month dual therapy strategy offers advantages for AFib patients and clinicians

New research found a simplified clot-preventing medication regimen following stent placement in adults with atrial fibrillation was just as safe and effective in preventing strokes, heart attack and death, when compared to a standard year-long treatment regimen, according to a preliminary late-breaking science presentation today at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2025.

11 Nov 2025

Comparative study finds higher rates of adverse events with ticagrelor

One year of treatment with either of two strong blood-thinning medications—ticagrelor and prasugrel—by people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes who had a drug-eluting stent placed in their heart to treat coronary artery blockages did not offer the same level of benefit to prevent stent clotting, heart attacks, and bleeding complications, according to findings presented during a preliminary late-breaking science session during the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2025 in New Orleans on November 10.

10 Nov 2025

Prasugrel shows advantage over ticagrelor in diabetic patients after stent placement

One year of dual antiplatelet therapy with one of two potent P2Y12 inhibitors-ticagrelor or prasugrel-in people with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes who had received a drug-eluting stent did not offer the same level of benefit at preventing stent clotting, heart attacks and bleeding complications, according to a preliminary late-breaking science presentation today at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2025.

10 Nov 2025

Sirolimus-eluting balloon emerges as a safe and effective option for coronary in-stent restenosis

A new drug-eluting balloon can perform just as well as the standard treatment for patients with coronary in-stent restenosis (ISR) undergoing repeated percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

31 Oct 2025

Landmark trial shows drug-eluting balloon as effective option for in-stent restenosis

Results from the first randomized clinical trial in the United States to compare a sirolimus-eluting balloon (DEB) to control group consisting of drug-eluting stent (DES) and balloon angioplasty (BA) for the treatment of bare-metal and DES in-stent restenosis (ISR) deemed DEB to be noninferior to conventional therapies.

28 Oct 2025

Cutting balloon angioplasty proves noninferior to intravascular lithotripsy in treating calcified coronary lesions

Results from the first randomized controlled trial to directly compare the safety and efficacy of cutting balloon (CB) angioplasty to intravascular lithotripsy (IVL) prior to drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation for the treatment of calcified coronary artery disease found CB to be noninferior to IVL.

28 Oct 2025

Sirolimus-eluting balloon strategy matches drug-eluting stents in large international PCI trial

New study results from a large international all-comer population of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) candidates found that utilizing a strategy of sirolimus-eluting balloons with bailout stenting only if necessary was noninferior to routine drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation as part of the treatment for de novo coronary artery disease.

27 Oct 2025

Early aspirin discontinuation safe after complete revascularization in acute MI

Among low-risk patients with acute MI who underwent early complete revascularization and received one month of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT), P2Y12 inhibitor monotherapy was noninferior to continued DAPT for adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events, while reducing bleeding risk.

3 Sep 2025

FAME-3 study reveals similar outcomes for CABG and PCI in severe triple-vessel heart disease

In sharp contrast to earlier studies, patients with severe triple-vessel heart disease fared equally well whether they underwent open-heart bypass surgery (CABG) or a less invasive procedure called PCI (percutaneous coronary intervention) at five years of follow-up, according to research presented at the American College of Cardiology's Annual Scientific Session.

31 Mar 2025

Study finds no benefit of routine orbital atherectomy in cardiac stenting

Routine use of an orbital atherectomy device to remove calcium from severely blocked coronary arteries before patients undergo cardiac stenting procedures does not improve outcomes, a Mount Sinai-led study has found.

29 Oct 2024

Research suggests flexible approach to antiplatelet management after drug-eluting stent implantation

Among patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery more than 1 year after coronary drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation, there was no difference with respect to ischaemic outcomes or major bleeding between perioperative aspirin monotherapy and receiving no antiplatelet therapy, according to late-breaking research presented in a Hot Line session today at ESC Congress 2024.

1 Sep 2024

TCT 2024 to feature latest advances in interventional cardiovascular medicine

The Cardiovascular Research Foundation is pleased to announce the late-breaking clinical trials and science to be featured at TCT 2024.

28 Aug 2024

Intravascular imaging improves survival in heart disease patients undergoing stent placement

Using intravascular imaging to guide stent implantation during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in heart disease patients significantly improves survival and reduces adverse cardiovascular events compared to angiography-guided PCI alone, the most commonly used method.

22 Feb 2024

Extended P2Y12 inhibitor monotherapy reduces bleeding and ischemic events in ACS patients

Extended P2Y12 inhibitor monotherapy beyond 12 months after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) reduces bleeding and ischemic events in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients at high risk for both types of events.

29 Aug 2023

OCT-guided PCI does not reduce target vessel failure in complex patients, but improves safety

Optical coherence tomography (OCT)-guided percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) leads to a larger minimum stent area but does not reduce the two-year rate of target vessel failure compared with angiography-guided PCI, according to late breaking research presented in a Hot Line session today at ESC Congress 2023.

28 Aug 2023

Dual-antiplatelet therapy should remain the standard strategy for PCI even in the drug-eluting stent era

Prasugrel monotherapy after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with drug-eluting stents is not superior to dual-antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) for major bleeding but is non-inferior for cardiovascular events in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) or high bleeding risk (HBR), according to late breaking research presented in a Hot Line session today at ESC Congress 2023.

28 Aug 2023

Bioresorbable vascular scaffolds may be just as effective as drug-eluting metal stents for treating heart disease patients

First-generation bioresorbable vascular scaffolds (BVS) may be just as effective as drug-eluting metallic stents, which are currently the standard treatment for heart disease patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

17 May 2023

Research investigates how drug-eluting stent affects arterial tissue permeability and blood flow

For patients with symptomatic coronary artery disease, the best course of action often involves implanting a drug-eluting stent into the artery where a plaque buildup is blocking blood flow to the heart.

2 Sep 2021