[Are drug-eluting stents dangerous?]

The use of drug-eluting stents has brought considerable change to the treatment of coronary artery disease. However, recent reports have suggested that they may be associated with an increase risk of late thrombosis. A current analysis of the available data suggests that the risk of late thrombosis is indeed probably higher with drug-eluting stents than with bare metal stents. However, this risk appears low, and does not justify withholding the device from the patients who would benefit from their use, especially when they suffer from complex disease (long lesions, small vessels, diabetes, etc) with a known higher risk of recurrent stenosis. Based on the information available to us today, appropriate patient selection, meticulous implantation technique and uninterrupted dual antiplatelet therapy (aspirin and clopidogrel) for six to twelve months after angioplasty appear to be the main ingredients for a successful and uncomplicated procedure.