title: Aspirin desensitization in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary interventions with stent implantation.
abstract: The aim of this study was to test the safety and efficacy of a novel rapid desensitization procedure in patients with acetylsalicylic acid sensitivity and coronary artery disease who underwent cardiac catheterization and coronary stent implantation. Aspirin plays a key role in the secondary prevention of atherothrombotic events and thrombotic complications after stent implantation. Aspirin sensitivity not only limits patients to benefit from the long-term use of this antiplatelet agent but is also often an impediment to the implantation of bare-metal and drug-eluting coronary stents. Of 1,014 patients admitted for cardiac catheterization, 26 (2.6%) had histories of aspirin sensitivity characterized by respiratory or cutaneous manifestations (none had previous anaphylactic reactions); of these, 61.5% presented with acute coronary syndromes. All patients underwent a novel rapid desensitization challenge procedure before cardiac catheterization, except for those presenting with ST-elevation myocardial infarctions (n = 4), who underwent desensitization before hospital discharge. The desensitization procedure involved the oral administration of 6 sequential doses of aspirin (1, 5, 10, 20, 40, and 100 mg) over 5.5 hours without the use of corticosteroids or antihistamines. Patients were followed for 1 year to assess compliance with aspirin therapy and adverse events. The desensitization procedure was successful in 23 patients (88.5%). Percutaneous coronary intervention with stent implantation was performed in 22 patients (1.8 stents/patient). Drug-eluting stents were used in all patients except those who underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention (n = 3), in whom bare-metal stents were used. Multivessel percutaneous coronary intervention was performed in 30.7% of patients. At follow-up, all patients who successfully responded to the desensitization procedure tolerated aspirin well, without developing allergic reactions. Aspirin was withdrawn in only 1 patient, because of a peptic ulcer. In conclusion, rapid desensitization is safe and highly effective in patients with aspirin sensitivity and coronary artery disease who undergo coronary stent implantation, including those who receive drug-eluting stents.
authors.affiliation: Divisione di Cardiologia, Dipartimento Cardiovascolare, Ospedali Riuniti di Bergamo, Bergamo, Italy. roberta_rossini@yahoo.it
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rossini
authors.forename: Dominick J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Angiolillo
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Musumeci
authors.forename: PierMario
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Scuri
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Invernizzi
authors.forename: Theodore A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Bass
authors.forename: Laurian
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mihalcsik
authors.forename: Antonello
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gavazzi
mesh_terms: D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary / Q000295:instrumentation*; D001241:Aspirin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D003888:Desensitization, Immunologic / Q000379:methods*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004342:Drug Hypersensitivity / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006083:Graft Occlusion, Vascular / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008670:Metals; D008875:Middle Aged; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015607:Stents; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D008670:Metals; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D001241:Aspirin