International journal of cardiology
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Duration of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) following drug eluting stent (DES) implantation remains poorly defined. Endothelialisation of biodegradable polymer biolimus-eluting stents occurs early, and 6 months DAPT may be adequate. ⋯ After implantation of biodegradable polymer biolimus-eluting coronary stents, 6 months DAPT appears to be adequate, safe and effective.
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Renal denervation is increasingly being adopted as a treatment option in patients with resistant hypertension. The long-term safety of this procedure is unknown. Though the procedure interrupts the sympathetic nerves at the renal level, it also has effects on other organ beds, notably the heart and vasculature. ⋯ There is a theoretical concern that attenuating the renal sympathetic nerves might cause orthostatic hypotension or syncope. From the limited data available from hypertension trials, the procedure has not been associated with excessive episodes of syncope and this is supported by mechanistic tilt table data in asymptomatic patients. Ultimately, the safety of this technique will only be established once we have larger phase III/IV studies.