Comparative Evaluation of Two Paclitaxel-Coated Stents in an Experimental Setting

Unlike paclitaxel-coated balloons, pre-clinical data comparing different paclitaxel-coated stents (PCSs) are weak. The study objective was to compare the features of the 2 main PCSs: Eluvia® (Boston Scientific, Marlborough, MA) versus ZilverPTX® (Cook Medical, Bloomington, IN).

Analysis was carried out on 12 pigs divided into 2 groups: Eluvia® (n=6) and ZilverPTX® (n=6). The pigs received the PCS corresponding to their group in each external iliac artery and were paired one by one, to examine 6 different post-implantation timepoints: after 30 minutes, 6 hours, 24 hours, 3 days, 7 days, and 14 days. The paclitaxel concentration measurements and the histological analysis were carried out under blind testing on the plasma, arterial, lymph node, and muscle samples. A linear regression model and Wilcoxon Mann-Whitney test were used to study the variables.

The plasma paclitaxel rate decrease over 24 hours after PCS implantation was significantly different between the two groups, expressed by the correlation coefficient 0.19 (0.14-0.23; p<0.001) with an undetectable concentration at the 10th hour for Eluvia® versus 3 days for ZilverPTX®. Significantly higher paclitaxel concentrations with ZilverPTX® PCS were observed in muscle samples at each timepoint: extensor digitorum brevis 3.2 (1.17-5.23; p=0.005), biceps femoris 4.27 (2.27-6.26; p<0.001), semi-tendinosus 3.79 (1.85-5.73; p=0.001), tibialis anterior 3.0 (1.37-4.64; p=0.001), and in the femoral nodes 2.27±1.74 ng/g versus 0.14±0.13 ng/g (p<0.001). Histological analysis revealed a trend for more marked intimal inflammation in the arteries stented with ZilverPTX® (p=0.063), especially after the 7th and 14th days.

Such a difference in the concentration of paclitaxel in the plasma, muscles, and lymph nodes between the two stents was higher than expected based on differences in device design. The clinical consequences of these results remain to be elucidated, particularly regarding the concerning presence of paclitaxel in muscles and adjacent lymph nodes.Clinical ImpactThis experimental study compares 2 paclitaxel-coated stents. It demonstrates that differences in stent designs and drug features (coatings and concentrations) translate into differences in terms of concentrations of paclitaxel in the plasma, muscles, and lymph nodes. Our results favor the Eluvia® stent over the ZilverPTX® stent, although more studies are required to confirm this conclusion.