Cardiac patients who have implanted devices in their hearts face risks. The devices called stents.Stents are used to make arteries patent or open to allow an easy passage of blood. It is inserted into cardiac arteries by surgeons.Stents may be medicated or non medicated that are coated with drugs are more liable to suffer from internal blood clotting. The risk is four to five times greater when compared to patients who use stents that are not medicated. This was gauged on the basis of a large study conducted recently.
Experts from the U.S FDA is scheduled to meet in the coming week to confer regarding the potential dangers of using medicated stents. These stents may trigger off formation of fatal blood clots.The analysis presented by Cleveland Clinic which studied 6,675 patients is expected to snowball a massive debate regarding the safety factor of medicated stents Blood clots if formed, within arteries may lead to cardiac failure.
The American Journal of Medicine has published this study. The study mentions that that patients using stents coated with sirolimus, requires medication to prevent clotting to be taken for 2- 3 months, whereas stents that are coated with paclitaxel, needs anti clotting medicines to be taken for six months.
Researchers pointed out that the risks of developing clots, though small are definitely present with the use of drug coated. However they are useful in preventing repetitive invasive procedures on patients when compared with bare metal stents said experts Shares of companies that manufacture drug-coated stents have fallen in recent days amid concern the FDA panel will highlight the risks of the medical devices.
Boston Scientific and Johnson & Johnson, are the only two licensed companies in the fray having the major share of revenue generated from sale of stents. Medtronic Inc. and, Abbott Laboratories are also waiting to enter the U.S market by the year 2007-2008.
Source-Medindia
MST
