Coronary intervention with a heparin-coated stent and aspirin only.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the safety and efficacy of a post-stenting anti-platelet regimen of aspirin   without additional ticlopidine or clopidogrel   after successful heparin-coated stent implantation.


METHODS
A prospective, non-randomized, multi-center pilot study of patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention, including those with acute coronary syndromes and small vessels with one-month clinical follow-up, was undertaken. Patients received a heparin-coated stent and were treated with aspirin only.


RESULTS
Over a period of 6 months, a total of 122 patients were recruited in 6 centers. Their mean age was 57.2   10.0 years, 79% were male and 31% had unstable angina. Most (75%) had single-vessel disease, predominantly of the left anterior descending artery (51%), with a mean reference diameter of 2.44 mm   0.44 mm at baseline and 2.48   0.41 mm post stenting. At a 1-month clinical follow-up, no major adverse cardiovascular events (including subacute stent thrombosis) had occurred. Five patients were readmitted to hospital for symptoms unrelated to the interventional procedure.


CONCLUSIONS
Heparin-coated stent implantation using an antiplatelet regimen of aspirin only, appears to be safe and feasible. A randomized trial of a larger number of patients appears warranted.
Ruygrok
Peter N
PN
Cardiology Department, Green Lane Hospital, Green Lane West, Auckland 1003, New Zealand. PRuygrok@adhb.govt.nz
Sim
Kui-Hian
KH
Chan
Charles
C
Rachman
Otte J
OJ
Adipranoto
Jeffrey D
JD
Trisnohadi
Hanafi B
HB
Stewart
James T
JT
Ahmad
Nik
N
Mak
Koon-How
KH
Yusak
Muhammad
M
Boestan
Iwan
I
Santoso
Teguh
T
Suryapranata
Harry
H
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; D001208:Asia / Q000453:epidemiology; D001241:Aspirin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006493:Heparin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D015607:Stents
D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D006493:Heparin; D001241:Aspirin