From the Guidelines
The drug coating on a drug-eluting stent typically lasts for about 3 months, depending on the specific stent design and drug used, such as sirolimus, everolimus, zotarolimus, and paclitaxel. The duration of the drug coating can vary depending on the type of stent and the medication used.
- First-generation stents, like those using paclitaxel, generally release drugs over a shorter period, typically around 30 days 1.
- Newer-generation stents with more advanced polymers can extend drug release up to 3-4 months 1. The controlled release of these antiproliferative drugs helps inhibit excessive cell growth that could block the artery again, giving the vessel time to heal properly while maintaining blood flow.
- The use of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) is required for a minimum of 3 months for -limus stents and 6 months for -taxel stents to prevent stent thrombosis 1.
- The risk of stent thrombosis is highest within the first year after stent implantation, ranging from 0.7% to 2.0%, depending on patient and lesion complexity 1. It is essential to determine that the patient will likely be able to tolerate and comply with DAPT before implantation of a drug-eluting stent.
- The need for use of long-term warfarin and the associated increased risk of bleeding with long-term “triple therapy” is also a consideration in deciding on drug-eluting stent versus bare-metal stent 1.
From the Research
Duration of Drug Coating on Drug-Eluting Stents
The duration of the drug coating on a drug-eluting stent is not explicitly stated in the provided studies. However, we can gather some information about the drug release profiles and the duration of dual antiplatelet therapy, which may be related to the duration of the drug coating.
- The study 2 mentions that the polymers used for stent coating are often seen as the origin of compromised long-term safety of drug-eluting stents, but it does not provide information on the duration of the drug coating.
- The study 3 reports that late stent thrombosis occurred steadily at a constant rate of 0.6% per year up to 3 years after stent implantation, suggesting that the drug coating may last for at least 1 year.
- The study 4 investigates the safety of 3-month dual antiplatelet therapy after implantation of ultrathin sirolimus-eluting stents with biodegradable polymer, but it does not provide direct information on the duration of the drug coating.
- The study 5 compares a novel sirolimus-coated balloon with a paclitaxel-coated balloon in the treatment of coronary drug-eluting stent restenosis, but it does not provide information on the duration of the drug coating on the stents.
- The study 6 reviews the latest updates in the coatings field for cardiovascular stents, including various organic and inorganic stent coating options, but it does not provide specific information on the duration of the drug coating.
Factors Affecting Drug Coating Duration
Several factors may affect the duration of the drug coating on a drug-eluting stent, including:
- The type of polymer used for the coating 2, 4
- The drug release profile 2, 5
- The stent platform and metal frame 6
- The presence of endothelial cells on the stent surface 6
Dual Antiplatelet Therapy Duration
The duration of dual antiplatelet therapy may be related to the duration of the drug coating on the stent. The studies 3 and 4 report that dual antiplatelet therapy is typically recommended for at least 1 year after stent implantation, but the optimal duration is still being investigated.