| Dealing with the Dangers of Drug Eluting Stents | | | | event or experience a heart attack after insertion |
| Because of a common side effect of balloon | | | | of a DES device. In addition, increased incidence of |
| angioplasty surgery where many coronary | | | | non-cardiac conditions such as lung disease, cancer |
| arteries become weak and collapse, DES were | | | | and stroke were found in some stent patients. |
| invented. In order to prevent a collapse of a | | | | Stent thrombosis, a condition in which blood clots |
| coronary artery, a metal tube or scaffold, which | | | | in the artery and prevents blood flow, is among |
| is considered a stent, is inserted. | | | | the most dangerous side effects of DES |
| Drug coated stents were developed as | | | | treatment. |
| technology progressed and these stents are | | | | The risk also exists with non-medicated metal |
| designed to prevent restenosis by allowing drugs | | | | stents, but a disturbing trend has appeared in |
| to be released into the bloodstream over time. | | | | coated stents in which patients experience a linear |
| DES therapy is accompanied by antiplatelet drugs | | | | and cumulative rate of thrombosis over time. The |
| designed to prevent clotting of the blood within | | | | release of medication from the stent can lead to |
| the arteries for at least six months. Common | | | | delayed healing and actually increase the likelihood |
| drugs include Ticlid and Plavix, which help to ensure | | | | of thrombosis at the stent site. In fact, in June |
| that restenosis does not occur during the time in | | | | 2006, Boston Scientific itself admitted that its own |
| which the heart's cells are growing over the stent | | | | studies showed a higher increase in late stent |
| and allowing it to "grow" into the anatomy of the | | | | thrombosis with its medicated stent product, |
| coronary artery. | | | | implying that all drug-eluting stents might have this |
| Growing Popularity | | | | effect (a claim which was vigorously denied by its |
| The first stents were used in France in 1986, and | | | | competitor companies). |
| the first FDA approval for a metal stent ocurred | | | | Another drug-eluting stent side effect is |
| in 1994. Drug-eluting stents were first introduced | | | | dependence on antiplatelet drugs over the |
| in the 1990s and have since grown into a | | | | long-term. Since patients are usually put on Plavix |
| multi-billion dollar business with over six million | | | | and similar antithrombosis drugs after stent |
| prescriptions in America and over $5 billion in | | | | insertion, they are subject to the side effects of |
| revenues per year. American manufacturers | | | | those drugs, which include a myriad of symptoms |
| include Medtronic, Boston Pharmaceuticals and | | | | such as gastrointestinal bleeding, strokes, rashes, |
| Cordis, and the drug is also manufactured and | | | | chest pain, flu-like symptoms, allergic reactions, |
| marketed in Europe. | | | | and inability to have surgery in life-threatening |
| Drug-Eluting Stent Side Effects | | | | conditions due to the drugs' blood-thinning and |
| Despite their growing popularity, drug-eluting | | | | anti-clotting effects. This is in addition to the cost |
| stents have been linked with severe side effects | | | | of long-term Plavix use: while the minimum |
| including allergic reactions, increased risk for | | | | antiplatelet drug therapy averages around six |
| cardiac-related deaths and heart attacks, and | | | | months, some patients are prescribed Plavix for |
| thromobosis (blood clotting). The FDA warned | | | | life. |
| United States patients about the Cordis CYPHER | | | | If You've Experienced DES Side Effects |
| stent in 2003 after use of the CYPHER stent led | | | | If you have experienced side effects due to |
| to deaths in some patients due to sub-acute | | | | medicated stent insertion, seek medical attention |
| thrombosis, in which blood cells gather and clot | | | | immediately. Then start looking for a lawyer who |
| around the stent, preventing the passage of blood | | | | is experienced in medical device litigation. A DES |
| through the artery. | | | | lawyer will be able to provide the details and |
| In addition, a 2006 study conducted in Switzerland | | | | potential for a DES claim to receive monetary |
| found that patients with drug-eluting stents are up | | | | compensation for damages. |
| to 40 percent more likely to die of a cardiac | | | | |