Aims: This study will compare the efficacy of drug-eluting balloons (DEB) and everolimus-eluting stents (EES) in patients with drug-eluting stent (DES) in-stent restenosis (ISR).
Methods and results: This is a prospective, multicentre, randomised clinical trial comparing DEB and EES in patients with DES-ISR. The study is an investigator-driven initiative generated within the RIBS study programme. A total of 310 patients with DES-ISR will be included and randomised (1:1) to DEB or EES. Angiographic follow-up has been scheduled at six to nine months. Quantitative coronary analyses will be performed in a centralised core lab by blinded personnel. The primary endpoint of the study is minimal lumen diameter at angiographic follow-up. Other secondary angiographic endpoints include % diameter stenosis, late loss, net gain and binary restenosis rate. An independent clinical events committee will adjudicate clinical events after reviewing source documents. The main clinical outcome measure is a combined endpoint of cardiac death, myocardial infarction and target vessel revascularisation at one year. Individual components of the combined clinical endpoint and rates of target lesion revascularisation and stent thrombosis will also be compared.
Conclusions: This randomised clinical trial will determine the relative efficacy of EES versus DEB in patients presenting with DES-ISR. (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01239940).