Comparison of Coronary Stenting with Angioplasty in Diabetic Patients

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a major risk factor for r estenesis after coronary balloon angioplasty (PTCA). Recent studies have shown that coronary stenting significantly reduces restenesis compared with PTCA alone. However, stili limited data exist on the effect of coronary stenting in diabetic patients. Therefore, we designed thi s study to compare the results of intracoronary stenting and PTCA in nat ive coronary vessels with diabetic patients in our clinic. Sixty-three (15.6%) of 404 patients who underwent PTCA had DM (PTCA group); 36 (19.5 %) of 185 who underwent intracoronary stent had DM. There were no significant differences in the baseline elinical and angiographic characteristics between the coronary stent and PTCA group. In the early period, there were no statistically s ignificant differences in procedural and elinical success and in-hospital major complications between the coronary stent and PTCA group. During 8 months elinical follow-up, in the PTCA group ineidence of cardiac events was significantly higher in the than intracoronary stent group (38% vs 13.9% p=0.02). Rates of mortality (3.2% vs 2.8%), nonfatal AMI (3.2% vs 5.6%) were similar in both groups. Rates of revascularization (31. 7 vs 5.6% p=0.005) w ere higher in the PTCA group. In conclusion, DM was found to be a risk factor for untoward cardiac events indicating restenesis at 8 months' follow-up of patients who underwent PTCA alone. However, it was not found to be a risk factor in patients with intracoronary stenting. Thus, intracoronary stent implantation appeared to be more suitable than PTCA in diabetic patients.