Late angiographic stent thrombosis after sirolimus-eluting stent implantation

Background Although drug-eluting stents dramatically reduce revascularization after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), it is still unclear whether they increase the risk of stent thrombosis. Late stent thrombosis (> 30 days) was a very rare complication after bare metal stent implantation. Four cases of confirmed late angiographic stent thrombosis (LAST) after sirolimus-eluting stent (SES) implantation are presented and the incidence, promoting factors and outcomes of such cases in Japan, where clopidogrel has not been approved, are described. Methods and Results Between September 2004 and March 2006, 725 patients underwent PCI with SES implantation and 679 patients (94%) were clinically followed up (median 271 days). There were 4 cases (0.6%) of LAST (at 60, 180, 215, and 508 days, respectively) after elective SES implantation resulting in myocardial infarction. Three cases occurred soon after antiplatelet therapy discontinuation 3 patients died after LAST events. The incidence of LAST was 0.6%. Conclusions LAST is a rare complication, even after SES implantation, at least in patients with appropriate antiplatelet therapy. However, as it can lead to fatal complications, it must be taken into account, especially when antiplatelet therapy is discontinued.