[Off-label use of drug-eluting coronary stents]

Current recommendations of the German Cardiac Society on percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) summarise the database available for the use of drug-eluting stents (DES) for the treatment of symptomatic coronary artery stenoses. This analysis concludes that the safety and efficacy of drug-eluting stent platforms have been shown in on- and off-label situations. However, stenting with DES should be critically examined and evaluated in each patient. The decision to use a DES depends on the analysis of the individual morbidity, history of cardio-vascular disease and the specific coronary morphology. Patients characterised by a high risk of restenosis following PCI benefit in particular from DES use. In these cases, the off-label implantation of DES is indicated and necessary.