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An update on drug-eluting stents versus bare-metal stents in PCI treatment: are there any remaining indications for BMS use?

GG Stefanini & B Meier

Drug-eluting stents (DES) are recognized as a breakthrough technology in the treatment of coronary artery disease, primarily due to substantial reduction in the risk of repeat revascularization as compared with bare-metal stents (BMS). During the last decade new DES – with thinner stent struts, novel durable or biodegradable polymer coatings, and new limus antiproliferative agents – have been developed to address the limitations of earlier generation DES. Randomized trials, observational studies and meta-analyses have shown a marked improvement in clinical safety and efficacy with new-generation DES as compared with BMS, as well as early-generation DES, in a wide spectrum of patients. The objective of this article is to review whether there are any indications left for the use of BMS in clinical practice based on available evidence.