Table 1 DES on-label and off-label use

On-label use of drug-eluting stents (as approved by regulatory authorities in the USA)

1. Single de novo lesion in a native coronary artery in patients with stable coronary disease

2. Lesions covered by one stent with following characteristics:

Cypher 2.5–3.5 mm RVD*, ⩽30 mm long

Taxus 2.5–3.75 mm RVD*, ⩽35 mm

Off-label use of drug-eluting stents (use not evaluated in adequately powered randomised studies)

1. Very small vessels and very long lesions

2. Acute myocardial infarction

3. In-stent restenosis

4. Saphenous venous graft disease

5. Bifurcation lesions

6. Left main disease

7. Chronic total occlusions

8. Multivessel disease