CARDIOVASCULAR JOURNAL OF AFRICA • Vol 23, No 3, April 2012
AFRICA
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polymer, are more common in the peri-stent area. These plaques
are prone to rupture even long after the implantation of drug-
eluting stents.
4,6
To the best of our knowledge, this case is the longest reported
event of thrombosis following implantation of a paclitaxel-
eluting stent on dual anti-platelet therapy.
Conclusion
Stent thrombosis is an infrequent but serious event with
devastating consequences. It may occur years after implantation
of first-generation DES, even on dual anti-platelet therapy, as in
our case. In future, new-generation DES and biodegradable stents
with enhanced vessel-healing properties may prevent late stent
thrombosis. Currently, appropriate patient selection, optimal stent
deployment, long-term dual anti-platelet therapy, assessment of
anti-platelet responsiveness, and aggressive treatment of risk
factors may reduce the incidence of this complication.
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