ABSTRACT
There are limited data comparing long-term efficacy and safety of OPTIMA tacrolimus-eluting stent [TES] with Dual Antiplatelet Therapy [DAT] in daily practice. Therefore, we evaluated the safety and performance of OPTIMA TES with 2 or 6-month dual antiplatelet therapy in a 12-month follow up period. In a prospective, non-randomized single center registry in which 106 patients that underwent percutaneous coronary intervention with the OPTIMA TES between January 2010 and February 2011 were enrolled. After stenting, 62 patients received DAT for 2 months and the remainder for 6 months. Major Adverse Cardiac Events [MACE], stent thrombosis rate and target lesion revascularization [TLR] were evaluated in a 12-month follow-up period for 2-and 6-month DAT groups. No cases with death, MI or stent thrombosis were observed within the 12-month follow-up period in either of the groups. TLR and MACE rates were higher in 6-month DAT group compared to 2-month group [6.8% vs. 3.2% respectively, P=0.001] which may be due to this group having more diffuse disease [23.60 +/- 5.69 vs. 20.88 +/- 5.14, P=0.018]. OPTIMA tacrolimus-eluting stent is safe and efficient with short term DAT period. A randomized trial is needed for better evaluations of OPTIMA TES in daily clinical practice.
ABSTRACT
<p><b>INTRODUCTION</b>Many studies have reported on the association between human coronary artery disease (CAD) and certain persistent bacterial and viral infections. Currently, it is unclear whether hepatitis B virus infection is associated with the risk of the atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible association between hepatitis B virus infection and angiography-proven CAD.</p><p><b>MATERIALS AND METHODS</b>Sera from 5,004 patients who underwent coronary angiography were tested for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) by enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay at Madani Heart Hospital, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Iran.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Our study population comprised 66% male and 34% female, with an age range of 36 to 86 years. The prevalence of HBsAg positivity tended to be higher in CAD patients than in those without CAD (3.28% versus 2.17%), but the difference was not statistically significant.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Our results suggest that hepatitis B virus infection is not associated with coronary atherosclerosis in this population.</p>