Stent thrombosis and antiplatelet therapy: a review of 3004 consecutive patients in a single centre

Curzen, N., Morton, G., Hobson, A., Simpson, I., Calver, A., Gray, H. and Dawkins, K. (2007) Stent thrombosis and antiplatelet therapy: a review of 3004 consecutive patients in a single centre. British Journal of Cardiology, 14 (4), 234-237.

Abstract

Stent thrombosis (ST) is an uncommon but serious complication of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), and is associated with the discontinuation of antiplatelet therapy. In a retrospective study of ST cases during a two-year period at the Wessex Regional Cardiac Unit, 3,004 (1,661 emergency and 1,343 elective) patients underwent PCI between November 2003 and October 2005. There were 25 episodes of ST occurring in 22 patients (overall incidence of ST is 0.83%). There were two (8%) cases of acute ST, eight (32%) of sub-acute ST and 15 (60%) of late or very late ST (five cases between six and 12 months and one case more than one year post-procedure). In the late and very late ST group only one patient was taking dual antiplatelet therapy. Clopidogrel had been discontinued in 14 of the 15 cases and aspirin in five. Nine of the 15 cases occurred within six months following the procedure. All of the patients had a myocardial infarction as a direct consequence of ST and one patient died. We conclude that the incidence of ST in our unit is comparable with previously published data. Late and very late ST was strongly associated with discontinuation of dual antiplatelet therapy. This risk appears to extend beyond six months. These data support the administration of dual antiplatelet therapy for at least one year post-PCI and improving education for patients and healthcare staff about the importance of maintaining antiplatelet therapy

This record has no associated files available for download.

Contributors

Author: N. Curzen

Download statistics