Evolving management of patients treated by drug-eluting stent: prevention of late events.
Niccoli G., Sgueglia GA., Montone RA., Roberto M., Banning AP., Crea F.
Drug eluting stents (DES) were introduced in clinical practice to overcome the problem of in-stent restenosis (ISR) that limited the overall efficacy of percutaneous coronary revascularization with bare metal stent (BMS). Long-term outcome data confirm a sustained benefit of DES as compared with BMS. However, this benefit is mainly evident in the first year of follow-up. Indeed, DES-related events may extend over this time, due to late events (late ISR and/or very late stent thrombosis). Prevention of late failure of DES may become a specific therapeutic target.