Incidence of premature discontinuation of antiplatelet therapy after sirolimus-eluting stent implantation.

BACKGROUND Antiplatelet therapy in patients with sirolimus-eluting stents (SES) may be stopped because of bleeding or an invasive procedure. METHODS AND RESULTS In 254 patients with SES, the incidence of discontinuation of antiplatelet therapy and subsequent adverse cardiac events was evaluated. Follow-up was complete for 97.2% of the population and mean follow-up was 15.6+/-8.9 months. Discontinuation of antiplatelet therapy occurred for 46 patients (18.1%): 1 case of late stent thrombosis (2.2%) occurred 10 days after cessation of therapy because of pulmonary hemorrhage 7 months after SES deployment. CONCLUSION Discontinuation of antiplatelet therapy in patients with SES is not infrequent.