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Updated: May 31, 2026
Autologous Endothelial Progenitor Cell-Seeding Technology and Biocompatibility Testing For Cardiovascular Devices in Large Animal Model
Published on: September 9, 2011
Rationale and results of percutaneous coronary revascularization with endothelial progenitor cell capture stent in
P Scacciatella1, M D'Amico, I Meynet
1Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Diseases, S. Giovanni Battista University Hospital, Turin, Italy. paolo.scacciatella@tin.it
Insights
Endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) capture stents offer a promising alternative for high-risk patients needing non-cardiac surgery, allowing shorter dual antiplatelet therapy (DAT) and reducing cardiac events.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Interventional Cardiology
- Biomaterials in Medicine
Background:
- Drug-eluting stents (DES) are standard for coronary stenosis but pose challenges for patients requiring urgent non-cardiac surgery due to prolonged dual antiplatelet therapy (DAT).
- High-risk patients undergoing undeferrable non-cardiac surgery after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) face increased risks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To prospectively evaluate the efficacy and safety of endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) capture stents in high-risk patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery.
- To assess the feasibility of a shortened DAT period following EPC capture stent implantation.
Main Methods:
- Prospective evaluation of consecutive patients receiving EPC capture stents who underwent non-cardiac surgery within 60 days of PCI.
- Primary outcomes included cardiac death, myocardial infarction (MI), stent thrombosis (ST), target vessel revascularization (TVR), and major adverse cardiac events (MACE).
Main Results:
- Technical and procedural success rates were 100% in 20 patients who underwent surgery.
- No perioperative MACE occurred. Long-term follow-up (15.4±10.3 months) showed 10% cardiac death, no ST, and no ischemia-driven TVR.
- MACE-free survival probability was 66.5%.
Conclusions:
- EPC capture stent implantation appears safe and effective for high-risk patients needing non-cardiac surgery.
- This approach may permit early and safe discontinuation of DAT, presenting an alternative to conventional DES.
Aim:
Drug eluting stents (DES) are currently the gold standard for the treatment of significant coronary artery stenosis in high risk patients. In case of undeferrable non-cardiac surgery their use is still a challenge, due to the need of a prolonged dual antiplatelet therapy. We aimed to prospectively evaluate the efficacy and safety of the implantation of endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) capture stent followed by a short dual anti-platelet therapy (DAT) period in a high risk population of patients undergoing undeferrable non-cardiac surgery.
Methods:
We examined all consecutive patients who received EPCs capture stents and underwent non-cardiac surgery within 60 days of percutaneous coronary intervention. Our primary outcome was the occurrences of cardiac death, myocardial infarction (MI), stent thrombosis (ST), target vessel revascularization (TVR) and major adverse cardiac events (MACE).
Results:
Twenty-six patients underwent PCI and were enrolled, but only 20 underwent surgical intervention. Technical and procedural success rates were both 100%. No perioperative MACE was detected. After a mean long term follow-up of 15.4±10.3 months, 2 cases of cardiac death (10%), were recorded. No case of stent thrombosis was reported; no case of ischemia driven TLR was detected. The total MACE-free survival probability was 66.5%.
Conclusion:
EPC capture stent implantation in high-risk patients requiring undeferrable non-cardiac surgery seems to allow early cand safe discontinuation of DAT, and may be an attractive alternative to conventional stents.
