GISSOC II: Sirolimus Eluting Stent Versus Bare Metal Stent in Chronic Total Coronary Occlusions

The objective of this study is to compare the Cypher Select-TM Sirolimus Eluting Stent (SES) with the SONIC-TM Bare Metal Stent (BMS) in the treatment of Chronic Total Occlusion lesions (CTO). The primary hypothesis is that, at 8-month follow-up, the minimal luminal diameter (MLD) of the coronary segment treated with stent implantation in CTO lesions is significantly larger with the use of SES compared to BMS. The treated segment is defined as the segment covered by the stent(s) plus 5 mm proximally and distally to the stent(s).

This is a multicenter, prospective, randomized study that will be conducted at up to 22 centers in Italy. All patients who meet the eligibility criteria will be randomized to Cypher Select-TM Stent or SONIC-TM Stent. Patients will have repeat angiography at 8 months and clinical follow-up to 2 years. The study population will consist of 150 patients with single chronic total occlusion in a native coronary artery with a reference diameter between 2.75 mm and 3.75 mm. The occlusion has to be dilatable by balloon angioplasty and can be fully covered by \< 2 stents of ≤33 mm of length each. The CTO is defined as obstruction of a native coronary artery, at least 30 days old, with no luminal continuity and with Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) flow grade 0 or 1. Following confirmation of eligibility criteria and successful pre-dilating of the CTO, patients will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive SES CYPHER SELECT Stent or BMS SONIC Stent.

The coronary angiograms will be assessed at a core laboratory with Quantitative Coronary Angiography. Quantitative angiographic parameters including minimal luminal diameter, binary restenosis rate, total reocclusion rate, late luminal loss, will be evaluated at 8 months. The incidence of clinical events, including death, myocardial infarction, target vessel revascularization, stent thrombosis, will be evaluated at 8, 12 and 24 months.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* Stable or unstable angina pectoris or documented silent ischemia;
* Planned treatment of a single de novo chronic totally occluded (CTO) in a native coronary artery with a reference diameter between 2.75 mm and 3.75 mm;
* The target lesion can be fully covered by ≤ 2 stents of ≤33 mm of length each;
* The target CTO is at least 30 days old;
* The target CTO is successfully crossed by a guide wire and dilated by a balloon;

Exclusion Criteria:

* Myocardial infarction within 30 days in the territory of the target CTO;
* Unprotected left main coronary artery disease;
* Target CTO is in a graft;
* Target CTO is in a stented segment;
* Presence of other lesions in the same vessel,requiring angioplasty and not treatable with the same stent(s) used for the target CTO;
* More than one CTO requiring PCI;
* Target CTO has diseased side branches \>2.0 mm in diameter;
* Target CTO pretreated with non-balloon devices such as atherectomy or laser or thrombectomy devices;
* Patient treated with coronary brachytherapy;
* The patient has an ejection fraction ≤ 30%;
* The patient has impaired renal function (creatinine \> 3.0 mg/dl);
* The patient has known allergies to aspirin, clopidogrel bisulfate and ticlopidine, heparin, or sirolimus, contrast media or stainless steel that cannot be managed medically;
* The patient needs therapy with warfarin;
* The patient has a life expectancy less than 24 months;
* Recipient of heart transplant;
* The patient is currently participating in an investigational drug or another device study.