Drug-Eluting Coronary Stents in The New England Journal of Medicine
February 13, 2007 by Lei
Filed under Diseases & Conditions
In the March 8th issue of The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM), there’s a set of five studies on drug-eluting coronary stents in addition to two perspective articles and an editorial (pdf). Debate rages as to what type of stent is best.
Recent studies have shown that patients who receive coated stents should remain on anti-clotting medication, such as Plavix, indefinitely. Yet conflicting results–some studies show no difference while others show significant differences in death, revascularization, thrombosis–make it difficult to determine the type of coronary stent best suited for each patient.
From the Perspective written by Dr. William H. Maisel:
Several important questions remain unanswered. The magnitude and time course of the increased risk of stent thrombosis remain poorly defined, as do the relative long-term benefits and safety of drug-eluting stents in patients with complex conditions or coronary lesions. In addition, clinical studies are required to determine the ideal duration of antiplatelet therapy after stent implantation. Ultimately, an improved understanding of the coronary vascular response to injury after implantation of a drug-eluting stent will be required in order to develop future generations of devices that can minimize or eliminate the risk of late stent thrombosis.
If you’re in line for a coronary stent operation, ask your doctor about the latest NEJM studies and the type of stent that’s best for you.
Tags: stents, coronary stents, new england journal of medicine, nejm, heart, heart disease, cardiovascular disease, diseases, illness, health
