October 24, 2006—Data presented at the Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics conference revealed that drug-coated stents create a higher risk of blood clots when compared to traditional metal stents.
The researchers examined approximately 1,800 patients implanted with the Boston Scientific Taxus Stent and another 3,500 patients implanted with Johnson & Johnson's Cypher Stent.
The data revealed that the Taxus Stent caused a 0.4 percent risk of blood clot, compared to a 0.6 percent risk with the Cypher stent. Researchers noted that stent-related blood clots have a 70 percent chance of causing a major heart attack or death. |