Three-year clinical outcome in Type 2 diabetic patients with drug-eluting stents versus bare-metal stents with pioglitazone

AimsThe aim of this study was to examine outcome subsequent to implantation of bare-metal stents (BMS) with pioglitazone, which are novel insulin-sensitizing agents, and drug-eluting stents (DES) in patients with diabetes.Methods and ResultsA total of 139 consecutive Type 2 diabetic patients treated with stent were followed up for 3 years. Data on death, myocardial infarction (MI), target lesion revascularization (TLR), and stent thrombosis were ascertained from January 2003 to January 2006.Eighty-nine patients were treated with a BMS with pioglitazone, and 50 patients were treated with a DES. The incidence of MI was 1.1% in the BMS with pioglitazone group, 4.0% in the DES group [relative risk RR):0.52; 95% CI: 0.10–2.56]. The incidence of TLR was 22.5% in the BMS with pioglitazone group, 28.0% in the DES group (RR 0.89; 95% CI: 0.65–1.22). The incidence of stent thrombosis was 1.0% in the BMS with pioglitazone group, 4.0% in the DES group (RR 0.52; 95% CI: 0.10–2.56). Overall 3-year mortality was similar in the two groups (RR 0.77; 95% CI: 0.34–1.74).ConclusionsDuring 3 years of follow-up, patients treated with BMS with pioglitazone had similar risks of death, TLR, MI, and stent thrombosis compared with patients treated with DES.