Extensive application of
stents coated with a medicinal antiproliferative agent in clinical practice significantly improved late results of endovascular treatment of patients with various forms of
coronary heart disease (CHD). The largest clinical experience is gained with the use of
sirolimus- and
paclitaxel-coated
stents (Cypher, J&J; Cordis, and Taxus, Boston Scientific). However recent publications suggest a rather high frequency of late
thrombosis after implantation of such
stents. The aim of this work was to estimate their efficacy and safety during the 6-8 month follow-up in 712 patients with various forms of CHD to whom 910
sirolimus- and
paclitaxel-coated
stents were implanted. The immediate positive angiographic result was documented in 98.8% of the cases in group 1 (n=514, 667 Cypher
stents) and 96,7% in group 2 (n=198, 243 Taxus
stents). Acute
thrombosis was documented in 1 patient of each group (p > 0.5). The frequency of restenosis was 2.9 and 3.1% in groups 1 and 2 respectively (p > 0.5). Late
thrombosis within 1 year after implantation occurred in 0.4 and 1% of the patients respectively (p > 0.5). Late
thrombosis is supposed to be due to a variety of factors, viz. withdrawal of antithrombotic
therapy, incomplete
stent opening, the use of non-absorbable
polymer; suppression of epithelization, etc. All patients undergoing steent implantation are in need of antiaggregation
therapy with
acetylsalicylic acid and
clopidogrel till the cause of late
thrombosis is clarified.