Very late thrombosis of a paclitaxel-eluting stent after 72 months in a patient on dual anti-platelet therapy

• Published in: Cardiovascular Journal of Africa Vol. 23; no. 3; pp. e9 - e11
• Main Authors: Subban, V, Kalidoss, L, Sankardas, M A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: South Africa 12-04-2012
• Subjects: Aspirin - therapeutic use; Coronary Thrombosis - etiology; Coronary Thrombosis - therapy; Drug-Eluting Stents - adverse effects; Echocardiography; Electrocardiography; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Myocardial Infarction - etiology; Myocardial Infarction - therapy; Paclitaxel; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors - therapeutic use; Ticlopidine - analogs & derivatives; Ticlopidine - therapeutic use; Time Factors
• ISSN: 1995-1892; 1680-0745
• DOI: 10.5830/CVJA-2011-022

Very late thrombosis continues to be a major cause of concern in the era of drug-eluting stents. The duration of vulnerability to this complication remains undefined. A 62-year-old diabetic male underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention with a Taxus Express stent (Boston Scientific, Natick, Mass) implantation in 2003 for anterior wall myocardial infarction (AWMI). The patient was on dual anti-platelet treatment. He was asymptomatic and his stress test was negative in 2008. After 72 months, the patient was admitted with acute AWMI resulting from stent thrombosis, which was treated successfully. This case underscores the importance of realising that very late stent thrombosis may occur when patients present with angina symptoms.