Avastin-eluting stent: long-term angiographic and clinical follow up

The detection of atheromatous lesions in patients with coronary artery disease is related to neovascularisation, since it is associated with the presence of a dense network of vasa vasorum in the vascular wall. The increased density of vasa vasorum causes destabilisation of the atheromatous plaque. The safety and efficacy of a stent coated with bevacizumab, a monoclonal antibody for vascular endothelial growth factor have been established at both the experimental and the clinical level. We present the case of a patient with acute myocardial infarction and significant stenosis in the mid-section of the left anterior descending coronary artery, treated by implantation of a bevacizumab-coated stent. A coronary angiographic examination 2 years later showed patent coronary arteries with a well-preserved angioplasty result in the anterior descending artery. This is the first report of findings beyond six-month follow up of this type of stent and represents the first clinical and angiographic proof of its long-term efficacy.