Drug-Coated Heart Stents Mean Higher Blood Clot Risk

A new review and analysis by researchers from Cleveland Clinic has found patients fitted with drug-coated heart stents are four to five times more likely to get blood clots in comparison to those carrying the older bare-metal variety. The researchers reviewed and analyzed data from a number of studies on these heart devices to arrive at their conclusion.

Stents are tiny wire-mesh devices coated with drugs and are used to prop open surgically cleared heart arteries. All patients fitted with stents have to be put on anti-clotting drugs in order to cut down their chances of thrombosis – generally known as blood clots. Thrombosis can lead to heart attacks which can be fatal.

For inserting a stent, doctors first position a miniscule deflated balloon next to the clogged portion of the artery. When the balloon is inflated, the artery is widened and the clog gets cleared. A tiny mesh scaffolding – the stent – follows the balloon into the area to keep the artery open.

More than 6,675 patients and 14 studies were covered under their review by the Cleveland Clinic researchers. They found if patients don’t stay on anti-clogging medications, they are at significantly higher risk of developing dangerous blood clots.

However the effect and safety of long-term use of anti-clogging medications on heart stent patients is yet to be confirmed and the area remains unexplored. Dr. Deepak Bhatt, an associate director of the Cleveland Clinic Cardiovascular Coordinating Center and one of the study’s authors said, “This does not mean they should not be used as they significantly reduce the need for repeat procedures compared with bare metal stents.”

In the opinion of certain doctors, the increased risk is insignificant and acceptable – there are about five blood clots found in every 1000 patients fitted with drug-coated stents. More than six million people all over the world have benefited from treatment with drug-coated stents inserted into their arteries during an angioplasty. According to doctors, an over-reaction to research and the risk could badly hurt long term options these and new patients have.

This new analysis of existing research studies was conducted by the researchers in preparation of a meeting of a Food and Drug Administration panel of experts to discuss the issue of stents. Results of the study have been published in the latest issue of the American Journal of Medicine.

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