Self-Expanding and Balloon-Expandable Stent Systems Perform Well in Study of Real-World Peripheral Artery Disease Patients

LAS VEGAS, May 10, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Two types of stent systems are both effective in treating patients who have severe forms of peripheral artery disease (PAD), according to results of the MOBILITY trial presented today as a late-breaking clinical trial at the SCAI 2012 Scientific Sessions.

The study found patients with complex lesions who were treated with a balloon-expandable stent system, in which a balloon-tipped catheter is inflated to expand and place the stent, or a self-expanding stent system, which is made of flexible material designed to conform to challenging lesions, saw improvement in walking ability, while maintaining low rates of restenosis and major adverse events.

Traditionally, patients with iliac artery disease, a form of PAD that affects the lower extremities, have been excluded from clinical trials if they have highly calcific lesions. However, these patients often are more representative of "real-world" patients treated by interventional cardiologists. The MOBILITY trial was designed to test the effectiveness of a self-expanding stent system and a balloon-expandable stent system in patients with intermittent claudication (IC) or critical limb ischemia (CLI) with even the most complex lesions.

A total of 304 patients with 384 lesions were enrolled in the multi-center trial. Of those, 151 patients were treated with the Absolute Pro Peripheral Self-Expanding Stent System (AP), while 153 were treated with the Omnilink Elite Peripheral Balloon-Expandable Stent System (OLE). A high degree of calcification has been thought to result in failure of endovascular therapy, but that was not seen in the study. After nine months, the rate of major adverse events was 6.1 percent for patients treated with AP and 5.4 percent for patients treated with OLE, significantly below the primary endpoint goal of 19.5 percent (p<0.0001). Walking ability significantly improved for both sets of patients, and restenosis rates were 8.4 percent for AP and 9.0 percent for OLE, even though moderate to severe calcification was noted in 90 percent of all lesions treated.

"These results demonstrate that balloon-expandable and self-expandable stent systems are effective even in real-world patients. At nine months, we saw improvements in walking ability, while still maintaining low rates of restenosis and major adverse events," said Michael R. Jaff, DO, FSCAI, medical director of the Vascular Ultrasound Core Laboratory at Massachusetts General Hospital. "The study shows even patients with severe lesions can be successfully treated, helping restore their movement. After nine months, patients saw improvement in walking distance and speed, as well as ability to climb stairs."

Iliac artery disease is a form of PAD that can progress to the point of impacting walking ability, and can result in chronic pain and even permanent disability. Opening the narrowed arteries can restore blood flow to the legs, resulting in reduced pain and improved walking ability.

Dr. Jaff serves as a non-compensated advisor to Abbott Vascular.

Dr. Jaff will present "Modern Endovascular Management of Patients with Iliac Artery Disease. Results from the MOBILITY Trial" on Thursday, May 10, 2012, at the Late-Breaking Clinical Trials session beginning at noon (Pacific Time).

About SCAI

Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions is a 4,000-member professional organization representing invasive and interventional cardiologists in approximately 70 nations. SCAI's mission is to promote excellence in invasive and interventional cardiovascular medicine through physician education and representation, and advancement of quality standards to enhance patient care. SCAI's patient education program, Seconds Count, offers comprehensive information about cardiovascular disease. For more information about SCAI and Seconds Count, visit www.scai.org or www.SecondsCount.org.

SOURCE Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions