The main objective of this study is to assess the safety and effectiveness of the CYPHER sirolimus-eluting stent in maintaining minimum lumen diameter in de novo native coronary artery lesions as compared to the uncoated Bx VELOCITY balloon-expandable stent in patients with manifest diabetes mellitus. Both stents are mounted on the Raptorâ Rapid Exchange Stent Delivery System.

This is a multicenter (19 sites), prospective, 2 arm randomized study designed to assess the safety and effectiveness of the CYPHER sirolimus-eluting stent as compared to the uncoated Bx VELOCITY balloon-expandable stent in patients with manifest diabetes mellitus. Patients with de novo native coronary artery lesions <= 42 mm in length and >=2.5mm and <=3.5mm in diameter (by visual estimate) will be included in the study. A total of 190 patients will be entered and randomly allocated to the CYPHERTM sirolimus-eluting stent or the uncoated Bx VELOCITY balloon-expandable stent at a 1:1 ratio. Patients will be followed for 12 months post-procedure, with all patients having a repeat angiography at 8 months (± 1 month).

It is anticipated the total duration of the study will be 18 months: 6 months to complete patient enrollment and 12 months for follow up.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Diagnosis of angina pectoris as defined by Canadian Cardiovascular Society Classification (CCS I, II, III, IV) OR unstable angina pectoris (Braunwald Classification B I-II) OR patients with documented silent ischemia;
• Manifest diabetes mellitus, proven by fasting glucose (12 h) > 127 mg/dl or oral glucose challenge: >= 200 mg/dl after 2 h or diabetes mellitus already treated with oral antidiabetics or insulin;
• Treatment of a de novo native coronary artery lesion in a major coronary artery in patients with single or multi-vessel disease; patients with 2- or more-vessel-disease can be enrolled if previous treatment(s) of those lesions other than the target lesion have taken place at least 3 months prior to the enrolment to this study. If more than 1 study stent is necessary to treat the lesion, overlapping is strongly recommended;
• Target vessel diameter at the lesion site is >= 2.5mm and <= 3.5mm (visual estimate); (stents will be available in 2.5 / 3.0 mm width);
• Target lesion is <= 42mm in length (visual estimate); (stents will be available in 8, 18 and 33 mm length);
• Target lesion diameter stenosis is > 50% and <100% (visual estimate);

Exclusion Criteria:

None