Prevention of stent thrombosis with reduced dose of prasugrel in two patients undergoing treatment of cerebral aneurysms with pipeline embolisation devices

Abstract

Prevention of intracranial stent thrombosis with dual-antiplatelet therapy is widely used in neuroendovascular procedures. However, the rising incidence of inadequate platelet inhibition with clopidogrel may increase complications following stent placement, especially with newer devices that possess a larger total metal surface area. While there are recent reports of prasugrel as an alternative to clopidogrel, there is no clinical evidence in neurointerventional patients regarding the use of a lower maintenance dose as an alternative strategy to gain adequate platelet inhibition while possibly reducing the risk of bleeding. We present 6-month efficacy and safety outcomes of two patients undergoing elective pipeline embolisation that were found to have inadequate platelet response to clopidogrel and subsequently transitioned to prasugrel 5 mg daily for the prevention of stent thrombosis. Copyright 2012 BMJ Publishing Group. All rights reserved.