Optimizing percutaneous coronary revascularization in diabetic women: Analysis from the EPISTENT trial

Clinical studies have demonstrated that diabetic women have an increased risk of death and nonfatal myocardial infarction (MI) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). However, there have been few data regarding the outcome of diabetic women in the current era of percutaneous coronary revascularization. Using the Evaluation of Platelet IIb/IIIa Inhibitor for Stenting Trial (EPISTENT) database, we determined morbidity and mortality for diabetic women undergoing PCT in the current era using stents and the glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitor, abciximab. There were no mortality differences in the diabetic women treated with stent-placebo, stent-abciximab, or balloon-abciximab at 30 days and 6 months. However, the primary end point of 1-year death, MI, or target vessel revascularization (TVR) was lowered in the diabetic women from 34.5% in the stent-placebo group and 28.9% in the balloon-abciximab group to 13.3% in the stent-abciximab group (p = 0.02 for stent-stent comparison, and p = 0.09 for stent-abciximab vs. balloon-abciximab comparison). Also, 1-year TVR rates were lowered from 21.1% in the stent-placebo group and 26.7% in the balloon-abciximab group to 4.5% in the stent-abciximab group (p = 0.02 for stent-stent comparison, and p = 0.004 for stent-abciximab vs. balloon-abciximab comparison). The combination of stenting and abciximab therapy among diabetic women resulted in a significant reduction in 1-year rate of death, MI, or TVR compared with stent-placebo or balloon-abciximab therapy.