Nine-month results from the TAXUS VI trial, testing Boston Scientific's moderate-release-formulation paclitaxel-eluting stent in longer lesions in complex patients, Dr Eberhard Grube (Heart Center Siegburg, Germany) presented that the TAXUS MR had significantly reduced target lesion revascularization (TLR) and binary restenosis rates, compared with bare-metal stents. Diabetic patients, who represented 20% of the TAXUS VI population, also benefited from the coated stent. TAXUS VI enrolled patients with smaller vessels (2.5 to 3.75 mm) and a high proportion of diabetics and condoned the use of multiple overlapping stents. The target vessel revascularization (TVR), the primary end point of TAXUS VI, was 9.1% in the Taxus MR arm, compared with 19.4% in the control arm, a statistically significant difference. TLR rates and MACE were also reduced in the Taxus group. However, stent thrombosis rates were low in both groups. Binary restenosis rates, both in-stent and in-segment, were significantly lower in the Taxus group. QCA data showed improved outcomes in terms of percent diameter stenosis, minimum lumen diameter, and in-segment late loss.

Dr Grube said: "This trial clearly shows the lowest TLR rate reported in any long lesion trial. Despite excellent results in the control arm, the TAXUS MR patients demonstrates an excellent safety profile comparable to control, with a 64% improvement in TLR."

Major TAXUS VI results

TAXUS VI: Diabetic results