A Comparison of Coronary-Artery Stenting with Angioplasty

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Abstract
The article by Versaci et al. (March 20 issue)1 reports more favorable clinical and angiographic outcomes for the treatment of isolated primary stenosis of the proximal left anterior descending coronary artery with stenting than with balloon angioplasty. The main advantage of stenting was a much lower rate of recurrence of angina during the follow-up period. However, the authors fail to inform the reader how this was assessed. Was the clinical evaluation carried out by physicians and nurses who were unaware of whether the patients had undergone balloon angioplasty or stenting? The authors claim that the angiograms were analyzed by two observers who were blinded to the treatment assignments, but Palmaz–Schatz stents (Johnson & Johnson Interventional Systems, Warren, N.J.), which were used, are visible on angiograms.