Compared with bare-metal stents, drug-eluting stents have which characteristics regarding restenosis risk and dual antiplatelet therapy duration?

Compared with bare-metal stents, drug-eluting stents have which characteristics regarding restenosis risk and dual antiplatelet therapy duration?

• A. BMS has higher restenosis risk and shorter DAPT duration.
• B. DES lowers restenosis risk and shorter DAPT duration.
• C. BMS lowers restenosis risk and longer DAPT duration.
• D. DES lowers restenosis risk but requires longer dual antiplatelet therapy, while BMS has higher restenosis risk and shorter DAPT duration.

Answer: (D)

The main idea is how the stent type affects restenosis risk and how long you need to continue dual antiplatelet therapy. Drug-eluting stents release antiproliferative drugs that inhibit neointimal hyperplasia, so they markedly reduce restenosis compared with bare-metal stents. But the coating can delay endothelial healing, which raises the risk of stent thrombosis if antiplatelet therapy is stopped too soon, so dual antiplatelet therapy is kept for a longer period with drug-eluting stents. Bare-metal stents don’t have that antiproliferative effect, so restenosis risk is higher, but endothelialization happens sooner, allowing a shorter duration of dual antiplatelet therapy. So the statement that drug-eluting stents lower restenosis risk and require longer dual antiplatelet therapy, while bare-metal stents have higher restenosis risk and shorter DAPT duration, is the best description.

The main idea is how the stent type affects restenosis risk and how long you need to continue dual antiplatelet therapy. Drug-eluting stents release antiproliferative drugs that inhibit neointimal hyperplasia, so they markedly reduce restenosis compared with bare-metal stents. But the coating can delay endothelial healing, which raises the risk of stent thrombosis if antiplatelet therapy is stopped too soon, so dual antiplatelet therapy is kept for a longer period with drug-eluting stents. Bare-metal stents don’t have that antiproliferative effect, so restenosis risk is higher, but endothelialization happens sooner, allowing a shorter duration of dual antiplatelet therapy. So the statement that drug-eluting stents lower restenosis risk and require longer dual antiplatelet therapy, while bare-metal stents have higher restenosis risk and shorter DAPT duration, is the best description.