Date:02/03/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/03/02/stories/2005030202741300.htm

National

Better results claimed for new stent variety

By Aarti Dhar

NEW DELHI, MARCH 1. A team of Indian cardiologists claims to have successfully used the latest generation stent in a minimally invasive interventional procedure to save lives from coronary heart disease. A follow-up involving 40 patients who used the stent has shown positive results, it was stated here on Tuesday.

Manufactured by the California-based Conor Medsystems and distributed by Interventional Technologies, an Indian company, the new stent — Costar — makes use of "reservoirs'' and holes in it filled with the drug rather than coating the surface as in the case of other stents. This has helped overcome problems of polymer cracking when the stents have to be implanted in difficult arterial locations.

Costar is made from cobalt chromium and is hence stronger than conventional stents that use stainless steel. It is thinner and its malleability allows for enhanced flexibility and deliverability. Therefore it can reach even the farthest and most difficult spots in a coronary artery, V.M. Kasim of Interventional Technologies said.

As cobalt chromium is more radiopaque, it is better visible compared to stainless steel and is compatible with magnetic resonance imaging. Costar uses biodegradable polymer unlike conventional stents, and this ensures the complete elimination of the drug from the stent over a finite period of time without drug retention, which can have toxic effects, Mr. Kasim added.

Stents are tiny metal tubes mounted on a balloon catheter and inserted by means of a minor incision through the groin of the patient. This tube acts as a scaffold to prevent the collapse of accumulated plaque. The new technology will cost about Rs. 1 lakh for the patient.

Trials

The Costar product is supported by extensive clinical trials in Europe and India. The Indian trials were conducted in four premier hospitals and the response was positive. The follow-up data on this trial was presented at an international meeting of interventional cardiologists in Washington by the cardiologist, U. Kaul, who is the principal investigator.