Top cardiologist in US has called for larger evaluatoion in the use of stent.
One of the leading cardiologists in US is asking for an extensive study for the evaluation of the possible risk of developing fatal blood clots on the use of stents.
Stents are widely used heart devices that treat blocked heart arteries, these drug eluting stents are had essentially eliminated short-term restenosis as a complication of coronary angioplasty, but now they have suddenly have come under a cloud for possible late-term risks. Reports indicate that almost 6 million heart patients worldwide have received a drug-eluting stent, which is a tiny wire mesh tube that is covered with a drug, which reduces scar formation and keeps vessels from reclosing.Recently there is a growing body of evidence that seemingly suggest that this newer generation of stents, compared with the bare metal variety, might cause the formation of blood clots long after implantation. The risk associated with the condition that is now known as known as late-stent thrombosis, were the center of debate at a cardiology meeting held earlier this week in Barcelona.
It was also reported that the Cardiologists who were attending the European Society of Cardiology/World Congress of Cardiology in Barcelona last week were shocked by meta-analyses data that had raised serious questions about the long-term safety of the devices.
Dr. Stephen Nissen, head of cardiovascular medicine at the Cleveland Clinic, said, “This really shakes up the whole cardiology community. “No one has done the right kind of long-term study. Adding that the patients should be followed for three or four years instead nine months, he said, “We need a prospective, randomized trial. That's the gold standard and I'm hoping regulators will mandate it.” Further announcing that he would take an active role in starting such a study, he added, “How else will we answer the question”
Source-Medindia
VIK
