March 18, 2002 - Midwest Heart Specialists One of First Practices World Wide to Trial New Therapy for Restenosis
Midwest Heart Specialists One of First Practices World Wide to Trial New Therapy for RestenosisMarch 18, 2002
Elmhurst, IL
Midwest Heart Specialists concluded its research into offering cardiac patients a revolutionary new technology that could potentially change the face of heart disease for decades to come. The cardiology practice was the only practice in the Chicagoland area to participate in this trial.
The trial used traditional stent technology coated with a drug, such as the ones used in treating cancer patients. Physicians with Midwest Heart Specialists investigated how effective this combination is in keeping the coronary arteries of heart disease patients open.
Currently, nearly one million patients undergo interventional procedures a year to open diseased coronary arteries. Coronary arteries which close, due to build up of plaque, prevent adequate blood and oxygen flow to the heart. When this inadequate blood supply affects the heart, chest pain, inefficient heart pumping or a heart attack may occur.
In recent years, interventional cardiologists have been able to re-open these diseased arteries with angioplasty or stenting. However, despite these advances, restenosis or closure of the repaired arteries remains a major obstacle for cardiologists and surgeons. Out of the nearly one million patients a year who undergo an interventional procedure, 20 to 30 percent are treated for reopening the previously treated arteries.
“More than 200,000 cardiac patients a year could potentially benefit from this technology.” said Lawrence Barr, MD, cardiologist with Midwest Heart Specialists and medical director of the Midwest Heart Research Foundation. “Decreased hospital readmissions and repeat procedures, due to this rate of restenosis, could translate into big savings for patients and the health care industry.”
By all accounts the use of drug-coated stents in the future appears to be enormous.
In fact, the American Heart Association referred to this technology one of the top 10 research breakthroughs in 2001, after the results from Phase I of the trial were released this past autumn at the American Heart Association Scientific Session. Studies and research from this trial indicated that seven months following treatment with a drug coated stent, there was virtually no restenosis or recurring artery blockage in these patients.
“Restenosis was considered the Achilles Heel in interventional cardiology. This technology may virtually eliminate this risk,” said Louis McKeever, MD, cardiologist with Midwest Heart Specialists..” Early results from these trials are certainly encouraging.”
At the trial’s close on March 1, 2002, Midwest Heart Specialists had enrolled 21 patients into this randomized study of more than 1,000. The trial is open to only 25 sites world-wide. Results from Phase II of these trials will be provided to the Food and Drug Administration in late 2002. If approved for general use, wide-spread use of the drug-coated stents is expected in early 2003.
Midwest Heart Specialists is a 42 member private practice Cardiology group in the western suburbs of Chicago. Cardiac sub-specialties include congestive heart failure, electrophysiology, interventional cardiology, radiology and clinical diagnosis and treatment. MHS physicians are on staff at nine area hospitals and have additional clinics in Aurora, Yorkville, BolingBrook, Kishwaukee and Sandwich.