How real is a threat of late thrombosis for drug-eluting stents? Stent comparison and focus on everolimus

Abstract

Introducing drug-eluting stents (DES) is an important achievement in interventional cardiology. These stents have demonstrated good clinical results, effectiveness and safety. Despite the decrease in restenosis incidence, the incidence of adverse coronary events remained the same as for standard metal stents. However, DES could be successfully used in patients with small artery disease, restenosis after balloon angioplasty or stenting, with diabetes mellitus, or disseminated coronary atherosclerosis. The studies comparing various DES are analysed. Anti-platelet therapy and patients’ management after percutaneous coronary intervention are also discussed. The focus is on a new, everolimus-eluting stent, which has been proved more effective than other DES.

Keywords

• percutaneous coronary intervention
• drug-eluting stents
• restenosis
• late stent thrombosis
• anti-platelet therapy
• prognosis