Comparison of outcomes up to six months of heparin-coated with noncoated stents after percutaneous coronary intervention for acute myocardial infarction

We prospectively followed 238 patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention for acute. ST-elevation myocardial infarction and compared the outcomes of patients who received heparin-coated stents (n = 124) with those of patients who received noncoated stents (n = 114). The clinical characteristics and adjunctive medications of the 2 groups were similar. The use of heparin-coated stents was associated with improved 30-day outcome but had no significant effect on 180-day outcome. (C) 2004 by Excerpta Medica, Inc.